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5 days in Jeju, South Korea – a road trip itinerary

Asia , South Korea , Travel Guides / December 17, 2023 by littleholidays / 1 Comment

Ready to explore South Korea’s Jeju Island with its stunning landscapes, vibrant local culture, and tasty traditional food?

Welcome to South Korea’s “island of the gods” – a perfect spot for your unforgettable little holiday!

Jeju Island, formed from ancient volcanic eruptions, is full of dramatic craters, caves, and cliffs that create a spectacular setting for your adventure. Each season brings something special to Jeju – from hot, sunny summers to snowy winters, and from lively springs to colorful autumns. The island’s ever-changing beauty will have you planning your next trip before you’ve even left.

To help you get the most out of your time in Jeju, here’s a 5-day itinerary designed for those who love adventure and want a bit of everything. It combines leisurely beach days, pleasant hikes, mouthwatering culinary experiences, and epic road trips through breathtaking floral fields and stunning views.

So, get ready for an extraordinary journey through Jeju Island. It’s time to start planning your holiday in this stunning paradise!

Tell us: What are you most excited about your trip to Jeju?

• Sightseeing, shopping, and food-tripping! 32%, 1952 votes 1952 votes 32% 1952 votes - 32% of all votes
• Going on a road trip to see the gorgeous floral fields and breathtaking views 27%, 1607 votes 1607 votes 27% 1607 votes - 27% of all votes
• Hiking Mt. Hallasan and the Olle trails 18%, 1096 votes 1096 votes 18% 1096 votes - 18% of all votes
• Finding my spot on the beach and just chilling, island-style 16%, 936 votes 936 votes 16% 936 votes - 16% of all votes
• Really curious to check out Jeju's quirky museums and local food scene! 7%, 431 vote 431 vote 7% 431 vote - 7% of all votes
• Really curious to check out Jeju's quirky museums and local food scene!
• Sightseeing, shopping, and food-tripping!
• Finding my spot on the beach and just chilling, island-style
• Going on a road trip to see the gorgeous floral fields and breathtaking views
• Hiking Mt. Hallasan and the Olle trails

Little Holidays Guide to Jeju, South Korea

How to spend 5 days on jeju island.

• Map – essential landmarks
• Best things to do in Jeju
• Tours and day trips
• What to eat and where
• Planning your trip

Beyond Jeju – where to go next

• Download the PDF guide

Here’s a quick overview of the best things to do for 5 days in Jeju. You’ll find a detailed itinerary below, as well as a Google map and a PDF guide you can download.

This itinerary is best done as a road trip. Driving around the island will give you plenty of time to explore Jeju. I’d also recommend having two bases for this trip – spend the first half in Seogwipo, then the second half in Jeju City.

My recommended itinerary will give you lots of time to enjoy each destination, but it will be difficult to fit everything if you’re going by public transportation. If you don’t plan to drive a rental car, I’d recommend chartering a private car with a driver to see as much of the island as possible. You can stay in Jeju City and explore the whole island from there.

Day 1 – As soon as you arrive in Jeju, pick up your rental car, and make the scenic drive south to Seogwipo. If you have a couple of daylight hours, drive to the coast and check out Oedolgae and the Jeongbang waterfalls. Head to the Chilsimni Food Street for that much-anticipated seafood dinner, then pop over to a café and ease into Seogwipo’s rustic island vibe.

Day 2 – Head west and start the day’s adventures with tea at the O’sulloc Green Tea Field. Then continue to the west coast and drive along the seaside for some of Jeju Island’s most beautiful sights – from Suweobong hill to Sanbang mountain, Cheonjeyeon falls, and Jusangjeolli cliff. End the day with a delicious black pork BBQ feast.

Day 3 – Pack your bags and say bye to Seogwipo. Then drive east past gorgeous floral fields and walk up the Seongsan Ilchulbong. Ride the ferry to Udo and hike or bike around the island. Afterward, head to Manjanggul Cave before finally driving northwest to Jeju City.

Day 4 – After 3 full days of driving, it’s time for a hike! Go up Mt. Hallasan and choose your own adventure – from the easy 1.3-km Eoseungsaengak trail to the 9.6-km Seongpanak trail. Back in Jeju City, reward yourself with an evening at the spa and a hearty bowl of noodles.

Day 5 – Take it easy on your last day and make it a beach day! Drive west to Hyeopjae and Gumneung and enjoy crystal-clear waters and white-sand beaches. Take a stroll around the lush Hallim Park, then end the day with one last amazing sunset.

Map – essential landmarks in Jeju

Use this Google map to plan your holiday in Jeju. I added all the important landmarks, the best places to visit, and the best areas and hotels to stay in.

Take note that Google maps won’t give you driving routes in South Korea. You’ll have to use an alternative map like Naver or Waze . You can learn more about driving in South Korea here .

Best things to do on Jeju Island – 5-day itinerary

Day 1 – seogwipo and south jeju.

Whether you’re coming to Jeju Island by plane or ferry, you’ll be arriving at the northern tip of the island. Get your rental car ( make sure to reserve online in advance ) and begin the scenic drive down south to Seogwipo.

I recommend Seogwipo as your base for the first part of your holiday in Jeju (the first 2 nights for this 5-day itinerary – but you can definitely extend your stay if you want to enjoy the southern hiking trails and beaches a bit more). There’s a lot to see in the south half of the island and driving down from Jeju City every day can take up a lot of your sightseeing time. The vibe in Seogwipo is also a lot more rustic and chilled than that of Jeju City, so it’s definitely worth soaking up the atmosphere here for a couple of days.

The drive from Jeju City to Seogwipo can take around 1-2 hours, depending on the traffic. If you’re arriving on a morning flight or ferry, you’ll have a bit of time to explore the southern coast after checking in to your hotel in Seogwipo.

First of many natural landscapes to see in Jeju: the Oedolgae Rock .

The 20 m-tall lone rock pillar was formed after a volcanic eruption, but the legends it inspired are a lot more dramatic. One story says that it was a grandmother who was transformed into a rock after waiting in vain for her husband to return from fishing. Another legend says that at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty, General Choi Young dressed up the rock to look like an enormous soldier, scaring away the people of Mokho who wanted to conquer Jeju Island. Its most recent claim to fame, though, was as one of the film locations in “Dae Jang Geum,” a popular Korean TV series.

But even without the legends, it’s worth a stop, especially if you want to get your sea views ASAP. You can stretch your legs after your long drive with a stroll along the walkway near the Oedolgae.

Jeongbang Waterfall

A short drive away is the Jeongbang Waterfall, which is quite a sight as it falls directly into the sea. Try to make it here in time for sunset for amazing views and, hopefully, a thinner crowd.

Chilsimni Food Street

Now it’s time for your first dinner in Jeju! Head to the Chilsimni Food Street and tuck into a seafood dinner or a black pork BBQ feast.

You can easily walk along Chilsimni and follow your nose, but if you want a quick suggestion, try the abalone soup at Jeju Halmang Ttukbaegi Restaurant.

After dinner, walk along the harbor or pop into one of the many downtown cafés and soak up the Seogwipo vibe.

Day 2 – West Jeju

On your second day, explore the west and southwest coasts of the island. But make a pit stop at the O’Sulloc green tea fields for an energizing start to your day.

O’Sulloc Green Tea Field

Green tea is one of South Korea’s prized products, and you’ll certainly find a lot of green tea plantations in Jeju. If you’re a green tea aficionado, make sure to check out these green tea fields you can visit all over the island. But even if you’re just a casual tea drinker, a stop at the O’Sulloc green tea fields is a great way to start a full day of driving.

While you’re there, drop by the Innisfree Jeju House next door. They have a more extensive café and restaurant that’s perfect for a bigger brunch.

Suweolbong Peak

Continue your drive west towards the coast and make your way to Suweolbong Peak – the westernmost point of Jeju Island. It’s an excellent spot for a walk along the coast and for views from the observatory.

Sanbangsan and Yongmeori Coast

From Suweolbong, drive south following the coast and make your way to Sanbangsan and Yongmeori Coast. While it’s a short 30-minute drive, the views are spectacular along the way, so you’ll want to make frequent photo-taking stops.

Walk along the trail that begins in the Yongmeori Coast to see beautiful rock formations, views of the Sanbangsan mountain and the sea, and, if you’re coming from mid-March through April, vibrant yellow canola fields all around. It’s certainly the postcard-perfect Jeju scenery.

You can also walk up to the Sanbanggulsa grotto and take a break at one of the cafés at the foot of the mountain. A cruise around the geopark gives you amazing views of Songaksan Volcano and Marado Island. If you have some extra time or want a relaxing alternative to walking, dip into the Sanbangsan hot springs.

Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls

Head next to Cheonjeyeon waterfalls, one of Jeju Island’s most beautiful waterfalls.

(Note: Cheonjeyeon is inside the Jungmun Complex – see Google map above. There is also a Cheonjiyeon waterfall nearer to Jeongbang falls near the Seogwipo downtown.)

The Cheonjeyeon is a three-tier waterfall nestled within a forest. Its pools are some of the clearest and deepest blues you’ll see.

The forest around Cheonjeyeon is designated as a natural monument as it’s home to rare plant species.

You’ll also come across the Seonigmyo Bridge, which is also called Chilseonyeogyo or Seven Nymphs Bridge. Legend has it that seven fairies serving the Emperor of Heaven would descend from the heavens every night and bathe in the waterfall’s pond. You’ll see the seven nymphs carved on both sides of the bridge. On clear days, you can see all three falls from the bridge.

Jungmun Tourist Area

There’s a lot more to see around the Jungmun Tourist Area – like the Teddy Bear Museum, Pacific Land, and the Yeomiji Botanical Garden. You can consider these sights as rainy-day alternatives, or if you’re keen on visiting them, you can add an extra day to your stay.

Jusangjeolli

Last spot for this packed road trip day – the Jusangjeolli cliff. It’s a short 3-km drive from the Jungmun Tourist Complex.

The hexagonal volcanic columns were formed from lava from the Hallasan mountain erupting into the Jungmun sea. During high tide, the waves crashing into the cliff makes for some pretty dramatic landscape pictures.

From Jusangjeolli, it’s a quick 20-minute drive back to Seogwipo. If you haven’t yet, treat yourself to a black pork BBQ dinner – my absolute favorite place is Jeju Hukdon Saesang Suragan ( 제주흑돈세상수라간 – click to navigate to on Waze) in Seogwipo, but Hayoung in the Jungmun Tourist Complex is great, too.

Day 3 – East Jeju

So far, we’ve seen the best of the west and south coasts. Now, we’re going eastward!

This is going to be a much longer drive (the first stop is about an hour’s drive from Seogwipo), and the last stop is much closer to Jeju City. For this day, I’d recommend that you plan to check out of your Seogwipo hotel in the morning and move to Jeju City at the end of the day. The destinations for days 4 and 5 are closer to Jeju City as well, so this is the perfect time to switch bases.

Start the day early and drive northeast to Seongsan Port. If you’re coming to Jeju in early May, you’ll see fields of late-blooming canola along the way. From the Seongsan Port, it’s a 15-minute ferry ride to Udo Island. You can then go around the island in a day by bike, on foot, or on a tour bus.

Udo is a perfect compact version of Jeju that’s a breeze to explore. In a day, you’ll get to explore white sand, black sand, and rocky beaches, scenic peaks and romantic lighthouses, and vast fields of flowers.

The Jeju Olle Trail 01-1 goes around Udo Island past all the key landmarks and is a great way to explore the island. The route covers 11.3 km and takes about 4-5 hours. You can find more information about the Olle trail here , and my full Udo itinerary here .

(Note: When I first made this road trip in 2016, they still allowed rental cars to be ferried from Jeju’s main island to Udo Island. However, they’ve since imposed restrictions and now only allow local cars and rental cars carrying passengers who fulfill these exceptions (with proof):

• someone with an age above 65 (ID card)
• a pregnant woman (diagnosis paper of pregnancy)
• a disabled person using a wheelchair
• a child under 6 (Family Relation Certificate, Copy of Resident Registration, or medical insurance card)
• if you have accommodation in Udo booked in advance (booking confirmation)

You’ll need to bring documents to prove that you qualify for these exceptions. Please contact the Jeju Tourist Information Center for the most recent updates to these rules.

If you can’t ferry a rental car over to Udo Island, don’t worry! There are lots of alternatives.

You can rent bicycles, electric bikes, mini electric cars, even scooters from numerous rental shopsaround the ferry terminal. Just remember, if you’re renting anything with a motor, you’ll need a Korean driving license or a valid international one.

There’s also a shuttle bus service that goes around the island at regular intervals, so even if you don’t plan to drive, you’ll be able to visit all the main sights.)

Seongsan Ilchulbong

Back on Jeju’s main island, make a short drive to Seongsan Ilchulbong.

The name literally translates to “sunrise castle hill” as Seongsan Ilchulbong’s location and elevation make it one of the best spots for watching sunrises and sunsets. It’s also a big deal in geological circles as its features as an archetypal tuff cone sheds light on the processes of hydromagmatic volcanoes.

If all that jargon is lost on you, though, let this suffice: the view at the top is absolutely breathtaking.

If you can, watch the sunset from the peak of Seongsan Ilchulbong.

If you’re not in a hurry to make it to Manjanggul Cave, driving 20 minutes north along the coast will bring you to Myeongjin Jeonbok. This is one of the best places on the island to eat abalone dishes.

Manjanggul Cave

If you managed to blitz through the island’s eastern sights and have time for one more, stop by Manjanggul Cave. It’s halfway between Seongsan Ilchulbong and Jeju City. The last admission is at 5 PM, though, so I really wouldn’t advise that you rush through the other sights. Going through the cave takes about an hour.

But if you manage to make it by sunrise to Seongsan Ilchulbong or decide to skip Udo Island, then you’ll have plenty of time for Manjanggul Cave.

If you think you’ve seen all the possible volcanic relics on the island, wait for it – Jeju’s got more for you. Manjanggul Cave is one of the finest lava tunnels in the world. Lava tunnels form when underground molten lava begins to slow and solidify, creating tunnel-like caves lined with various lava formations. Manjanggul houses the world’s tallest lava column as well as the “Stone Turtle” shaped like Jeju Island.

From Manjanggul Cave, it takes less than an hour’s drive west to Jeju City. Check in to your hotel and get ready for the second half of this road trip itinerary.

Day 4 – Hiking in Mt. Hallasan

After 3 full days of driving, it’s time for a change of pace. You’ve explored the coasts, now it’s time to get up close and personal with Mt. Hallasan.

Mt. Hallasan is South Korea’s tallest mountain with a height of 1,950 meters above sea level. It’s a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve important for its vibrant ecosystem as well as the 368 parasitic volcanoes around the main mountain. For us hobby hikers, it’s also relatively easy to hike with lots of well-maintained trails ranging from 1.3 km to 9.6 km in length.

You can find more information about the trails here but here are quick recommendations:

• The Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa trails go all the way to the top. If you can handle 18.4 km in a day, going up by Seongpanak (easier uphill) and down by Gwaneumsa (steeper but more picturesque) is one of the most recommended hikes in Hallasan.
• The 4.7-km Yeongsil trail is beautiful during autumn.
• The 3.7-km Eorimok trail is the best option if you want something easy but with rewarding views.

While the stunning views and the benefits of forest bathing make the hike all worthwhile, make sure to reward yourself with a treat once you’re back in Jeju City! Whether it’s relaxing in a jjimjilbang or wolfing down a bowl of noodles (check the map for recommendations), end the day with a dose of self-love.

Day 5 – Beach day

We’re saving the best for last!

You can’t leave Jeju without at least dipping your toes into the island’s white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. While days 1-3 had plenty of beach opportunities all over the island, now we’re heading to Jeju’s best beaches to chill and bum all day.

From Jeju City, head west towards the beaches of Hyeopjae and Geumneung. Look forward to a day of lounging, swimming, and walks on the beach. While you’re there, hop over to the nearby Hallim Park for a relaxing stroll. End the day with one last amazing Jeju sunset.

If you’re flying out on this day, make sure to plan for at least an hour’s drive back to Jeju City!

Day trips around Jeju Island – alternatives to self-driving in Jeju

Going on a road trip is definitely the best way to see Jeju Island, but if you don’t plan to drive, don’t fret! There are many ways to explore Jeju and you’ll still be able to see the best of the island.

Using public transportation is certainly an option ( read more about getting around the island here ) but if you want to experience as much of Jeju as possible, I’d recommend joining day tours. You’ll still reap the benefits of an efficient means of going around without having to drive yourself – plus you’ll never have to worry about navigating and parking.

• UNESCO Tour

This tour is a wonderful opportunity to explore some of Jeju’s best UNESCO-listed sites. You can either go south, hike up Mt. Halla, and visit the Jusangjeolli cliff and Cheonjiyeon falls. Or take the east route, hike up Seongsan Sunrise Peak and visit the Manjanggul Cave and Woljeongri Beach. This tour includes entrance fees, lunch, and a hotel pick-up service, so you can simply relax and enjoy your Jeju experience!

• Gimnyeong Yacht Cruise Tour

Relax and enjoy a luxurious cruise across the emerald waters of Gimnyeong. This is a perfect trip for all ages, and you may even get a chance to see some dolphins in their natural habitat.

• Custom Private Tour

If you’re traveling with a group or want to customize your Jeju holiday, the best way to go is to book a customized private full-day tour. You’ll get to design your own tour schedule and get a fluent English-speaking guide and a van all for your group.

What to eat and where – best restaurants in Jeju

I peppered this 5-day itinerary with food and restaurant suggestions, but if you need a quick checklist of must-eat foods in Jeju, here it is!

At the top of my list is Jeju black pork. We had grilled black pork for dinner almost every night and it’s one of the biggest reasons I crave a holiday in Jeju every so often. The Jeju black pig is native to the island and the meat is prepared by smoking it over hay, giving the pork a distinct and delicious flavor. If you’re in Seogwipo, go to Jeju Hukdon Saesang Suragan; in Jeju City, to Neulbom Heukdwaeji; and in Jungmun, to Hayoung.

The next must-try is haemultang or seafood hot pot. A steaming stew of fresh shellfish, abalone, scallops, crabs, and octopus is exactly the kind of meal you’d want to have in an island destination. Nowhere else can you have it this fresh and cheap and with such a satisfying spice and heat – you’ll definitely leave with a warm and happy belly. Go to Samseonghyeol Haemultang in Jeju City.

Other special mentions are:

• abalone porridge – Myeongjin Jeonbok near the northeast coast is the best restaurant to have abalone in the island
• hweh (thinly sliced raw fish similar to Japanese sashimi) – plenty of great options along the Chilsimni Food Street in Seogwipo, Friendship Sashimi Restaurant in Jeju City, and seaside tents all over Jeju
• guksu – try the pork noodle soup at Ollae Guksu and Sisters Noodles in Jeju City

How to plan your trip to Jeju, South Korea

Getting there.

Flying – Jeju Island has its own international airport, with plenty of connections from Seoul and Busan as well. You can find the most convenient flights to Jeju here .

Ferry – You can also reach Jeju from the main island by ferry from various points. Check ferry options and schedules here:

• Incheon-Jeju ferry
• Mokpo-Jeju ferry

From the airport to your hotel – From the international airport and the ferry terminal (both of which are in the northern coast of the island), downtown Jeju City is about a 20-minute drive, while Seogwipo City and the Jungmun Tourist District are both a bit over an hour’s drive.

If you’re not driving, you can ride the Jeju Airport Limousine 600 – it goes every 15 minutes from the airport to Jungmun resort and Seogwipo. You’ll find the bus stop in front of Gate 5 and you can pay using cash or a T-money card.

You can also book a private transfer from the airport to your hotel in Jeju City.

Getting around

Renting a car – Jeju Island is best explored by car and this itinerary works best if you’re going to drive.

You’ll need to book your rental car online in advance . I also highly recommend getting an unlimited data eSim so you can use Waze to navigate the island. Using the GPS (especially if it’s Korean) can be a bit tricky, so an online GPS app like Waze is definitely handy during rush hour on the island (I do have a Korean GPS guide if you want a fallback!).

On arrival at the airport, look for the rental car counters near Gate 2 and present your booking confirmation and documents to the staff. They’ll then give you instructions on how to pick up your car – you’ll have to ride a shuttle bus to their car depot.

Here’s a complete guide to renting a car and driving in South Korea – make sure to read it for a smooth-sailing road trip adventure in Jeju!

Car charter with driver – If you don’t want to drive, a private car with a local driver is the next best thing! At least you won’t have to worry about navigating and parking.

Public transportation – You can also go around the island using the buses – you’ll find routes and more information here . The Jeju City Tour Bus is also a fun and easy way to explore the city.

Best places to stay in Jeju

For this 5-day itinerary, I’d recommend splitting your time up between Seogwipo (for the first 2 nights) and Jeju City (last 3 nights).

Seogwipo is an excellent base for exploring the western and southern coasts of Jeju Island. It’s got a pleasant rustic and slow-paced vibe, good restaurants and cafés, and it’s close to a lot of natural landscapes. Parksunshine Jeju and The Grand Sumorum  are great hotel options.

Jeju City is best for exploring the northern parts and for shopping and cultural sightseeing. It’s also the best base to get around the island if you don’t plan to drive. Hotel Leo is a comfortable and convenient option.

Jungmun Tourist Area is a great base for a totally relaxing and laidback vacation. If you’re planning to take it slow and spend most of your time lounging in white sand beaches and strolling through lush forests, Jungmun is your base. You’ll also find the most luxurious resorts here – Parnas Hotel Jeju  is the best example of that world-class hospitality.

Top tips for travel to Jeju

Languages spoken: Korean, a bit of English in tourist landmarks

Useful phrases:

• Hello – annyeonghaseyo / 안녕하세요
• Thank you – gomabseubnida / 고맙습니다
• Cheers! – geonbae! / 건배!

Money : Korean won (KRW 10,000 ~ USD 9 ~ EUR 8)

Typical costs:

• Accommodations – A night’s stay in a luxurious resort (like Parnas Hotel Jeju ) can cost from KRW 250,000 (USD 215) per night. A nice mid-range hotel in a central location (like Hotel Leo ) can cost from KRW 80,000 per night (USD 70). You can also find budget hotels (like Gudeok Guesthouse ), which costs about KRW 36,500 (USD 30) per night.
• Food – Large meals at the local restaurants cost about KRW 20,000-30,000 (USD 20-25) per dish. Servings are huge, though, so plan to share some of the dishes.
• Transportation – Driving for 5 days (including rental car and gas) can cost you KRW 350,000 to 470,000 (USD 300-400).

Tipping : Tipping is not expected in South Korea. This applies to cab drivers, local restaurants, as well as hotels.

Weather and best times to go: Jeju is a year-round destination and every season has its own charms.

Spring (from mid-March to April) is the ideal time to go if you’re looking for that postcard-perfect shot of Jeju – blue skies, mild weather, and fields of flowers will be abloom all over the island. These are busy months in Jeju, so make sure to book your hotels, cars, and tours early!

Summer (from July to August) is the hottest time in Jeju and is the ideal time to visit if you want to swim in the sea and lounge at the beach.

Autumn (from September to November) is absolutely gorgeous as the island’s forests transform to autumn’s blazing colors. It’s a great time to hike with generally mild weather and stunning landscapes.

Winter (from November to February) is a time for snowy hikes up Mt. Hallasan. You’ll have clear and dry days, fewer tourist crowds until December, and much better hotel rates than the rest of the year.

Staying connected: It’s really convenient to have an eSim with unlimited data  while road tripping in Jeju. It will save you lots of hassle and disagreements with your car’s built-in (usually Korean) GPS.

Continue your adventures in South Korea and neighboring countries.

• Busan, South Korea

If you can’t get enough of Jeju’s subtropical charms, hop over to Busan. It’s the perfect mix of a seaside holiday and a city break with lots of sightseeing, shopping, and food-tripping opportunities. You can also take a side trip to Gyeongju , South Korea’s ancient capital.

• Coron, Philippines

Already daydreaming about your next beach vacation and can’t wait for the next summer season? Head south to the Philippines, where it’s always beach weather. Coron in Palawan will spoil you with its sugar-white beaches, deep blue lakes, colorful reefs, and historic wrecks.

• Penang, Malaysia

Another hot destination for you: Penang. The island is a delicious mix of history, art, tropical landscapes, and – most exciting of all – food.

• More road trips in South Korea

Here are more road trips to take – a road trip from Seoul and an itinerary for chasing autumn in South Korea .

I hope this guide helps you plan your trip to Jeju. It’s a really fantastic destination with lots to see, lots to do, and loads to eat! Hopefully, this guide helps you sort out your itinerary and makes you more excited for your upcoming trip.

Make sure to download the PDF guide and use it to plan and book your trip. If you need more information or need to clarify some details, get in touch, and I’ll do my best to help you out.

Thanks for reading and happy travels to South Korea!

Reader Interactions

August 28, 2023 at 1:41 pm

Hi I’m going there in December. Would you recommend me to change anything to the itinerary as it’s winter ? Also I’ll be driving. Thank you. Steph

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Ultimate Jeju Island Road Trip Itinerary (5-Day Itinerary)

Jeju Island is known by many as the ‘Hawaii of Korea’ . Located south of mainland South Korea, this volcanic island has it all – stunning beaches, awesome hikes, lava caves and not to forget, tangerines! There is so much to see and do that you probably feel a little overwhelmed by what you should include in your 5-day Jeju island itinerary and what not.

But, we are here to help you out! During our 6-week South Korea trip, we spend 11 days on Jeju island and drove around the whole island in our rental car. After having done so and seen quite a bit of this stunning island, we crafted what we consider our ultimate 5-day Jeju island itinerary that we share with you today!

This itinerary includes our top-pics of things to see and do , where to stay as well as some recommendations of where to eat while on the island! So, grab your notebook or whatever tool you use to plan your trips and let’s get into it!

Note: We use affiliate links in this post. They are marked by an *, so you can recognize them in advance. By interacting with these links, you can support us and our website at no extra cost to you! For more information, read our Disclaimer .

Table of Contents

5-Day Jeju Island Itinerary

Who is this itinerary for? Since we love being in and around nature, this itinerary is very much focused on seeing as much as possible of the natural beauty Jeju Island has to offer . Meaning, it includes beaches, stunning rock formations, coastal walks as well as waterfalls and everything in between!

You will be driving a loop around the whole island and see some of the best spots in the north, south, east and west of Jeju island! While a visit to Hallasan is not included in this 5-day Jeju island itinerary, we give you an option to extend your trip to be able to hike Mt. Hallasan at the end of your road trip. Which we highly recommend!

We are aware that there are a ton of theme parks of all kinds on Jeju island. However, we will not feature very many of them in this particular itinerary. For us personally, we were not interested in them enough to justify paying the entrance fee.

But, if you wish to include one or two, you can of course always tweak this itinerary to your liking!

How to get to Jeju Island?

So, where do we start? Right, at the beginning! How do you get to Jeju island? While there is the option to take a ferry, we recommend you fly to Jeju island for the following three reason. It is fast, cheap and convenient.

Fast , the flight to Jeju-City from Seoul takes about 45-50 minutes, so you won’t loose too much precious time on your trip. Cheap , when flying with one of the many South Korean low-budget airlines, prices will typically range between 30-90€ for a one-way flight depending on the time of day.

And convenient , because coming from Seoul or Busan there is literally a flight going towards Jeju-City every 20 minutes or so. This gives you quite some flexibility on when you wish to fly. Also, when landing at Jeju Airport, you can walk straight to where you will be picking up your rental car.

As a tip: When booking your flights you might be tempted to book the cheapest option , which typically leaves later in the evening. But, if you are traveling to Jeju island for a road trip and wish to make the most of your time in South Korea, take it from us, don’t do it ! Even though the flight is cheap, you will have to book a hotel in Jeju City for one night and then make your way to the airport again the next day to pick up your rental car. It’s better to pay a little more and arrive in the morning or early afternoon instead!

How to get around Jeju Island?

This leads us to the next point. In order to follow this itinerary, you will need a rental car ! Now rental cars on Jeju island are a bit more expensive than what we are used to from our Europe road trips. So, we definitely advise you to look for a rental car as early as possible!

We wrote a separate guide on the process of renting a car and driving on Jeju island. If this is your first time driving in South Korea, we have some helpful tips in there that you might want to know before taking it to the streets!

Well, now that we have our flights and rental car sorted out, let’s get into the ultimate 5-day itinerary for Jeju Island!

5-Day Jeju Island Itinerary Overview

• Day 1 : The Northwest. Explore Aewol Café Street, Handam Coastal Walk and Hyeopjae Beach.
• Day 2 : The West and Southwest. O’Sulloc Tea Museum, Sanbang Mountain and Jusangjeollidae.
• Day 3 : The South. Seogwipo and waterfalls!
• Day 4 : The East. Jeju Folk Village and Seongsan Ilchulbong.
• Day 5 : The Northeast. Manjanggul Cave and Woljeong Beach.
• Optional: Day 6: Hike Mt. Hallasan!

Day 1: Aewol, Handam Coastal Walk and Hyeopjae Beach

Whether you decide to take the ferry to Jeju Island or arrive by plane, either way you will find yourself in Jeju City – the starting point of this trip. And, after picking up your rental car, it is time to venture west!

The itinerary of your first day naturally depends on when you arrive on Jeju island. We recommend you arrive early in the morning so you can make the most of day one.

Aewol Café Street

So, first things first, head to Aewol (about 40 minutes from Jeju Airport), where you’ll find the Aewol Café Street . The latter is essentially a neighborhood filled with cafés located alongside the scenic coastline of this area! An ideal spot to start the morning with great coffee and get your first glimpse of the insanely blue water that will accompany you for most of your trip around Jeju island!

In terms of views, we can recommend ‘Team Blow Café’ (Address: 2474-3 Aewol-ri, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do). For great coffee and canelé head to ‘토투가 커피’ (Address: 3020-2 Gwideok-ri, Hallim-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do). But in general, you will not have problems finding awesome cafés, there are so many great ones here!

As a tip: This was the one spot on the island where it was harder to find free parking. So, maybe look up which café you would like to go to in advance. Most of them will have parking on their property. In our guide on driving in Jeju Island we explain why using the paid parking lots might not be such a good idea with a foreign credit card!

Gwakji Beach & Handam Coastal Walk

After you are fueled up with coffee, it is time to do some sightseeing! Handam Coastal Walk is a stunning walk alongside the coastline near Aewol. Depending on the parking situation, you have two possibilities .

Either you make your way towards a spot called ‘Aewol Handam Park’ (Address: 11 Aewol-ro, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do). The latter is a free parking lot and if there are still spots available, park here. It is located just above the Handam Coastal Walk. Once on the coastal walk, you can make your way towards Gwakji Beach while soaking in the views of this stunning coastal stretch.

If, like us, you have no luck finding a spot, drive further south towards Gwakji Beach straight away. When walking north alongside the beach you can reach the Handam Coastal Walk as well!

Hyeopjae Beach

The last location you will be exploring on your first day on the island is Hyeopjae Beach! This beach is one of the more stunning ones we encountered on Jeju Island! Like most of the beaches on Jeju, it has beautiful white sand as well as black volcanic rocks against a backdrop of vibrant blue water! What makes this beach even more beautiful is Biyangdo island, which is located just a stone’s throw away from the coast.

Spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach or exploring this lovely beach town and its many restaurants and cafés. You can also opt to visit Hallim Park, a botanical garden located only a quick walk away from Hyeopjae beach!

Day 2: O’sulloc Tea Fields, Sanbang Mountain and Jusangjeollidae

On the second day of this 5-day itinerary around Jeju island, you will be covering quite a bit more distance. So, make sure to head out early!

The first stop of today is actually located only a few minutes further down the coast from Hyeopjae Beach. You will be visiting the Cactus Moon Colony . This is another stunning walk, but this time it leads through a coastal stretch made out of volcanic black rock, which is overgrown with thousands of cacti!

Next, make your way further south towards Suwolbong Peak . There is a small pagoda on top of the hill from where you have an awesome view over the surrounding land, the sea as well as Chagwido island. You won’t have to climb Suwolbong Peak. There is a free parking lot right in front of the viewpoint, so you can simply drive up the hill.

O’sulloc Tea Fields

After having seen quite a few sights alongside the coast of Jeju island, it is time to head inland now! O’sulloc is considered to be South Korea’s number one tea brand. Many of their teas have been certified as organic by various labels around the world.

On Jeju island, you get the opportunity to visit their tea fields as well as their tea museum . The museum part is rather small, however it is free and you get an insight into how they process the tea leaves in order to create their teas, including free samples!

There is a shop on the grounds as well as a café. But what excited us the most were the stunning tea fields surrounding the whole property!

The site is not that huge, so planning an hour to see the museum, take some pictures in the tea fields and maybe drink something at their café will definitely be enough. There is also free parking available. Just be prepared, this place can get pretty crowded!

As a tip: If you are a fan of tangerines you are in luck. Jeju island is famous for its tangerines. That’s why you’ll see many tangerine plantations as you drive around the island. We saw numerous shops selling various kinds of tangerines alongside the road, especially in the southwest of Jeju island!

Sagye Beach, Yongmeori Coast & Sanbang Mountain

After your stroll through the tea fields, it is time to head back to the coast again. However, this time all the way south towards a pretty stunning beach, Sagye Beach ! Compared to the beaches we have visited before on Jeju island, this one has a more rugged feel to it and it definitely does not win you over with its white sand or blue water.

What makes it so interesting is the combination of this more wild and natural beach with Sanbang Mountain in the background! This place was definitely one of the spots where we could see where the popular comparison of Jeju island with Hawaii came from.

At the foot of Sanbang Mountain you’ll find the Sanbanggulsa Cave Temple . The latter is pretty famous for its grotto and is located in a simply stunning spot. The whole temple complex is pretty big and definitely worth a visit. You’ll have to pay an entrance fee of 1.000KR₩ for the grotto. Or you can purchase a combo-ticket for 2.500KR₩, which will also include access to Yongmeori Coast , also known as Dragon Head Coast.

Parking is free if you can secure a spot on the public parking lot across the road from the temple. From here you have a pretty awesome view over the whole coastal area as well! Another option is to park on the temple’s private parking lot. However, here you’ll have to pay a parking fee.

Jusangjeolli Cliff

And, just like that it is already time to head to the last spot on today’s itinerary, Jusangjeolli Cliff! If you have never heard of them before, it is essentially a cliff that was created when lava flowed into the sea as Mt. Hallasan erupted. These cliffs are considered to be a cultural monument of Jeju island.

The site surrounding the cliffs can easily be explored via the numerous paved paths and wooden walkways that were installed on top of the cliffs. Entrance fee: 2.000KR₩.

Make your way further east and check in to your accommodation for the next two nights as you’ll be exploring more of Jeju’s South! And, one day of not repacking your suitcase, yay! We are certainly always excited about that.

We stayed at the Galeum Guesthouse and really loved it there! You’ll have an awesome view of Seogeondo Island from your room and the couple that runs the guesthouse are super friendly! However, if you would like to go with something a bit more fancy, there is another option you can check out as well.

Day 3: Seogwipo, Cheonjeyeon & Jeongbang Waterfalls

After all the distance you had to cover on day two, day three definitely involves a little less driving. And, if your third day on Jeju island had a theme, it would definitely be waterfalls!

Jeongbang Waterfall

First thing in the morning, make your way towards Seogwipo. Your first stop of the day will however not be the city center just yet. Instead head straight towards the coast, where you will find Jeongbang Waterfall .

Jeongbang Waterfall is 23 meters high and located only a few meters away from the sea. It is a truly stunning sight! To get to the bottom of the waterfall, you have to go down a staircase. Once at the bottom of the cliffs, you can basically walk up to the waterfall. Be careful though, to get there you will have to navigate your way over some super slippery rocks! We definitely nearly fell once or twice! The entrance fee to access the site is 2.000KR₩.

After heading back up the cliff, make your way towards the city center now. Head towards ‘ Lee Jung Seop Street ‘, a lovely little street that is filled with small shops, selling mostly souvenirs. Even if you are not really interested in buying anything, it is on the route to get to your next stop: Seogwipo Olle Market .

This market sells mostly fresh produce, street food as well as some souvenirs. If you haven’t had the opportunity to get yourself tangerines so far, here is your chance! You’ll not only find whole tangerine fruits and tangerine juice, but also mochi filled with tangerines as well as tons of tangerine flavored souvenir snacks.

It is a great spot to be on the hunt for some lunch. We opted to try tangerine-filled mochi as well as fried gimbap rolls and we can definitely recommend both!

Cheonjeyeon Waterfall

In the afternoon, it is time to retrace your steps a little and head back west again. But don’t worry, not to far. Your next destination is the Cheonjeyeon Waterfall, which are located a little less than 30 minutes west of Seogwipo .

What was surprising to us was the fact that the Cheonjeyeon Waterfall is actually located in the midst of massive all-inclusive hotels and tourist complexes. However when you are there, you actually can not tell! Because, the waterfall is located in a valley surrounded by woods which actually cover up the surroundings perfectly.

The Cheonjeyeon Waterfall is a three-story waterfall , however the first story actually only carries water after heavy rainfall. This does not take away from the experience though, because the other two waterfalls are quite beautiful. Access to the waterfalls is provided via wooden boardwalks. And, you should be prepared to take a few staircases as well.

Also, don’t miss out on the gorgeous Seonim Bridge , which spans over the valley the waterfalls are located in. The entrance fee to see the Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls is 2.500KR₩ per person.

Jungmun Beach

The last stop of today is Jungmun Beach. If you ask us, this is the best beach on Jeju island to have a proper beach day. This beach is definitely completely different from all the other beaches you will find on the island. It is located at the bottom of a cliff and has beautiful yellow sand. Spend some time on the beach and let everything sink in that you have seen so far in your three days on Jeju island.

Since we had a hard time finding the entrance to the beach, we’ll leave the address here for you, so you don’t have to wander around aimlessly like we did to get there. There is a parking lot located here as well. Address: 154-17 Jungmungwangwang-ro, Saekdal-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea.

If an afternoon on the beach doesn’t sound like something you would like to do, consider visiting Oedolgae instead . The latter is a beautiful walk alongside the coastline with views of stunning cliffs and rock formations. Just make sure to head there before going to the Cheonjeyeon waterfalls, since Oedolgae is located right next to Seogwipo.

Day 4: Jeju Folk Village, Haenyeo Women Divers and Seongsan Ilchulbong

The forth day of this 5-day Jeju island itinerary will give you the opportunity to learn a little more about the culture of this stunning island.

Also, today you’ll have to do a bit more driving again. Your day starts off by making your way towards Jeju Folk Village . It is located about an hour away from Seogondo, where you have been staying for the last 2 nights.

Jeju Folk Village is a themed park, that will transport you back in time to what Jeju looked like in 1890, at the end of the Joseon dynasty. Here you can learn a bit more about the history of the island, what it was like to live here back in the day and get a glimpse into Jeju folk culture. Entrance fee: 11.000KR₩.

Since you are in the area, make a quick pit stop at Pyoseon Beach , before heading further east. Your next stop is located a 30-minute drive up the coast:

Seongsan Ilchulbong

Seongsan Ilchulbong is also often called ‘Sunrise Peak’ and was created, you probably guessed it, by volcanic eruptions. It is 182 meters high and you can hike up to the top . The climb will take about 20-minutes and involves a lot of stairs. But, the views once at the top are amazing!

At the foot of Seongsan Ilchulbong you will find a small bay where twice a day you can watch a performance of the famous Haenyeo. The latter are female divers that make their living by diving for things like sea weed and mollusks. They are an important part of Jeju culture, which is why they were enlisted on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.

The performance takes place at 1:30 and 3:00 p.m. and is actually less of a show but more of an opportunity for tourists to observe the Haenyeo at work . So, if you are interested in getting a glimpse into this fascinating part of Jeju culture, make sure to be there for the 1:30 p.m. show, which should be very well feasible with this itinerary. Entry to the Seongsan Ilchulbong area costs 2.000KR₩ per adult.

Right in front of the site you will find a huge free parking lot, which does get quite crowded on weekends. There are also numerous souvenir shops here for you can buy tangerine themed items and foods, something Jeju Island is very well known for.

Explore the East coast of Jeju

Later in the afternoon, take some time to explore a little more of the east coast of Jeju island. From Seongsan Ilchulbong make your way towards Hado Beach by taking the coastal road . You will be met with some stunning views, so make sure to make a few stops along the way.

For instance, we stopped at a small café called ‘View café’ (Address: 208-5 Siheung-ri, Seongsan-eup, 특별자치도, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea) for some pretty amazing tangerine pizza . The shop is let by a lovely elder Korean woman, just be aware that they close at 4p.m.!

Then we made our way further up towards Jongdal Port and stopped afterwards at an absolutely stunning viewpoint , which we could not find the name of so here is the address (Address: 451-3 Jongdal-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea).

Finally we made it to Hado Beach . On the farther end of Hado beach, you’ll find some sort of fishing village. It is not actually a village, but there is a small shop and a monument and it is one of the locations where Haenyeo women still work until today! So make sure to drop by.

Now it is time to make your way back and check in to your accommodation . We stayed at Playce Camp Jeju, a modern yet pretty affordable hotel which, from what we saw, seems to cater a lot towards people in their 20’s and 30’s.

Day 5: Woljeongri Beach and Manjanggul Lava Tube (Optional: Dongmun Traditional Market)

If you do not wish to hike Mt. Hallasan, today is your last day on Jeju Island! So, today’s focus lies on making your way back towards Jeju Airport. Depending on when your flight leaves, you will have more or less time to do so. However, make sure to not book a flight that leaves too early. Because, we still have two spots left to explore!

Manjanggul Lava Tube

This cave is actually a lava tube and a pretty impressive one at that. It is the 12th largest one in the world and was formed thousands of years ago! There is a 1-kilometer long area within the tunnel that tourists are allowed to go in to. Within the tunnel you’ll also discover some interesting formations, such as the highest lava column in the world!

Visiting the Manjanggul Lava Cave will cost an entrance fee of 4.000KR₩ per person.

Woljeongri Beach

After spending some time admiring the cave, it is time to visit one last beach on this trip! Woljeongri Beach is located only a few minutes drive away from Manjanggul Cave. We would say that this beach is definitely a typical Jeju beach again. It has white sand, stunning blue water and volcanic rocks scattered along the coast. A perfect spot to end this trip!

The beach is located inside a town, so it is an ideal place to find a late breakfast or early lunch, before taking on the one hour drive back to the airport where you will drop off your car.

Optional: Dongmun Traditional Market

For those of you that decided to extent their stay to hike Mt. Hallasan, you have two options . Either you drop off your rental car on day 5 and get to the starting point of the hike by bus. Or you keep your rental car for one more day and drive there yourself the next day.

Either way, tonight you will be staying in Jeju-City! Admittedly, compared to the rest of the island, Jeju City does not have that many exciting things to do, however there is one thing you should not miss though: Dongmun Traditional Market . This market is huge – way bigger than the one you already visited in Seogwipo.

You will find all sorts of produce here: fresh fruit, sea food, spices, nuts, vegetables, tons of kimchi and other fermented vegetables. It is a great place to stroll around for a while and observe the locals doing their daily shopping!

The most interesting part though is probably the night market . Around 7p.m., when other sections of the market close down, one section of Dongmun Market really comes to life: the street food section.

It is not that huge, but you definitely will not have trouble finding some amazing street food to end the day. Since we visited on our last day on Jeju island, we went all-out with the tangerine themed foods . We got ourselves tangerine flavored fried chicken, tangerine ice cream as well as tangerine juice. But there is a big variety of other things to try as well.

Before heading back to your accommodation for the night, make sure that you have everything you need for your hike up Mt. Hallasan the next day.

Optional: Day 6: Hike Mt. Hallasan

Mt. Hallasan is actually a volcano that sits in the center of Jeju island. With its 1950 meters of height, it is the highest peak in all of South Korea and today, you will stand on top of it!

However, since Day 6 is optional and not technically a part of this 5-Day Jeju Island itinerary, we won’t go to much into the details of hiking Mt. Hallasan here.

For those that wish to do so or if you are curious what it is like to hike Mt. Hallasan, we wrote a complete separate guide on hiking Mt. Hallasan . In there we touch on how to properly prepare for this hike, how to get there, where to stay and what documents you need to organize in advance. So go check it out!

Final thoughts on this 5-day Jeju Island itinerary

In our opinion, five days is a good amount of time to circle the whole island of Jeju. It will allow you to see most of the major sights on the island, while still being able to not rush through everything.

If you do not have that much time to spare, rather than compacting everything into less time, leave out one part of the island you are least interested in. This will spare you a lot of time wasted on driving and give you more time to explore the places you do visit.

Jeju Island is truly a stunning island. And since it is so different from mainland South Korea, it makes for a perfect addition to your South Korea trip!

You might also like:

A Complete Guide to Hiking Mt. Hallasan – the Highest Peak in South Korea!

How to rent a car and drive on Jeju island (as a foreigner)

How much does a trip to Jeju Island cost? – Full Breakdown of the Budget you’ll need!

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Things to Do in Jeju, South Korea: 4-Day Road Trip Itinerary

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Gushing waterfalls, magical lava caves, beautiful beaches numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a Natural World Wonder.

The nature of Jeju island is simply stunning. And it can all be attributed to volcanic eruptions too as that’s how this island was formed in the first place! Pretty cool, huh?

Now, this island is teeming with natural attractions, and in my opinion, the best way to see the things to do in Jeju, is to road trip it! The island is pretty small and can be done in a matter of a few days without skipping any of the cool stuff.

Grab your vehicle and make your way around these spots on an epic Jeju Island road trip!

Table of Contents

Things to Do in Jeju on a Road Trip

Manjanggul cave, gimnyeong maze park, jeju women divers –  haenyeo, resources for your trip:, seongsan – sunrise peak, jeongbang waterfalls, cheonjeyeon waterfalls, jusangjeolli cliffs, songsak mountain, hyeopjae for sunset, gwakigwamul beach, dodubong hill, renting a car on jeju island, tips for driving in jeju, personal musings about jeju island, getting over to jeju island, where to stay in jeju, south korea when on an island road trip, a night of seoul: a long layover in seoul, south korea, getting laser eye surgery in south korea (lasek): was it the right decision.

Not just any cave! This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for being one of the most spectacular lava tubes in the world.

The “lava shelves” and odd structures created by lava ages ago make for an interesting visit.

There are educational plaques as you walk through the dim cavern and at the end is the world’s largest lava column.

The cave is illuminated by colorful lights and has a path to easily walk down, but it’s quite craggy, so be careful not to stub a toe!

• 2000 won entrance fee

Be a kid again, I know I wanted to! I’ve always wanted to do one of those mazes walk things! When I found out there was one directly next to the lava tubes, I decided this was my chance.

Surrounded by two-year-olds, Garrett and I were the oldest childless adults there. With no cares in the world, we ran around trying to find our way out of the maze. It was quite entertaining!

• 2500 entrance fee

WOMEN POWER! These ladies are true badasses.

The tradition still lives on as women dive to the depths, without oxygen tanks, to make a catch. They mostly catch shellfish and abalone.

The women all vary in age, some reaching 80 years old! This is how they support their families and make their money. You can see them at a few different location around the island, but the most popular is around Seongsan.

Accommodation on Jeju Island:

There was no English name for this one. It’s right across from “Papaya Burger” and a few buildings down from Sunflower Guesthouse. Yeah… Good luck. 🙂

• We paid 35,000 won

Recommended Jeju tour:

• Eastern Jeju Discovery

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Literally, a peak where the sun rises. But not just any peak, this one happens to be a Natural World Wonder!

The hike up is pretty easy only taking about 20 minutes to reach the top platform. However, we found the sunrise to actually be better from afar. The top offers a look into the crater but it’s nothing too remarkable.

The side views are better as shown in my pictures.

For an even more spectacular sunrise, I would say go back even further so the sunrise is actually peeking out from the peak! That’s’ what I would do if I ever went again. Obviously, this is on the top of things to do in Jeju, so hopefully this tip helps!

Take some time to enjoy the scenery around  Seongsan as we did and we were rewarded with schools of dolphin in the distance!

We got there before sunrise and nobody was at the gate taking payment, however, this UNESCO Site  usually costs 2000 WON.

Best waterfall on the island, that I saw at least! Legends say that there a holy dragon that lives underneath!

Another beautiful waterfall with legends of seven nymphs that bathe in its waters.

You’ll walk over the seven nymphs bridge to reach the falls. There is a pool in the back and the first and second tiers that are the nicest. There isn’t a great vantage point for the third falls so I’d skip it especially if you’re low on time.

• 2500 won entrance fee

Minjoonggak guesthouse in Seigwepo. Nice sized room, nothing special, just what you need. The cheapest room we stayed at on the island!

Check Prices

• Western Island Exploration
• Udo Island Submarine

Pretty sweet looking in pictures, a little underwhelming once you get here. There’s literally one small boardwalk to walk on to see them and that’s it. It’s a 5 minute stop over if a stop over at all…

Get a mini workout and hike up this mountain. There’s a temple on top and some pretty sweet views.

• 1000 won for parking

Another mountain nearby with some more views!

This beach is pretty unreal! We got here just in time for sunset. Time it well so you can do the same.

The black rocks peeking out of the crystal-clear cerulean waters were spectacular.

That and the sunset was shooting out crazy hues of purple, pink and blue… We couldn’t stop taking photos. Out of all the things to do in Jeju, this is perhaps my favorite! I love me a good beach.

We got up the next morning and spent some time on the beach again. It’s truly beautiful! The only downside of it was it was winter and we couldn’t take a dip. I was dying to!

La Paloma Pension – I could have lived here! It’s a really nice studio apartment just a few minutes away from the beach and the town.

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• UNESCO Global Geopark Sanbangsan Cruise

After enjoying Hyeopjae again (SO PRETTY!) we didn’t have as an eventful day!

Perhaps during summer you’d spend more time at the beaches, but being winter… Yeah, it was freezing. If you were going to skip a day or maybe you only have three days… This is the day to skip.

If weather and time permits, I’d recommend hiking Mount Hallasan today!

We were so keen to do so, however, the weather wasn’t on our side and we were lacking the proper gear. You need real hiking shoes (we didn’t have any) and crampons which they have there for purchase (if you’re going in winter that is, we went in February and would have needed them if we went).

Hallasan looks EPIC and I was dying to go, but after research and speaking to locals, we just simply weren’t prepared.

Summer would be better or if you’re going in winter, make sure to bring the proper gear.

Decent looking beach with weird bathhouse area on the shore. It was really gross and dirty, maybe they clean it up for summer use? Either way, if you want to beach bum, this seems like a decent choice, but not better than Hyeopjae.

SKIP. Not a nice beach at all.

Need to kill some time? Only have time to enjoy Jeju city? This is a cool getaway just outside the city.

Get a mini workout in too. It’s a hill with views of the port, the ocean, the city, Mount Hallasan (if it’s not foggy) and the airport! I actually really enjoyed our walk around here.

A sex park full of statues in provocative positions, showing all the bits, and museums and gifts shops all related to sex. Interesting, weird, and a cool way to kill some time… I guess.

• Jeju Land Horseback Riding

We rented through Sixt as they had one of the only websites in English and offered a decent deal.

There were no issues when returning the car, but make sure to have an international driving permit! If you’re from the USA, it’s super easy to get. Just go to AAA and pay $20 for one.

Like ANY other rental you get, always ALWAYS take pictures and video of the vehicle before driving away. You never know what damage they will try to pawn off on you. We had no issues with this one but had a video just in case we did encounter it.

• 4 day rental total: 54,000 won
• Total spent on gas: 35,000 won (We only used 3/4 a tank for the whole trip!)

That’s less than $80 USD total for a four-day rental and gas! So worth and much cheaper. This is THE BEST way to see all the things to do in Jeju!

We’ve had luck getting good prices on rentals here .

Driving in Jeju was pretty easy! Especially if you’re from the US or another country who drives on the right-hand side. Everything is pretty clearly marked and signed in English.

Make sure to download the app maps.me.

For some reason, Google maps doesn’t work properly in Korea! It only provides bus routes, not driving. It’s quite weird, but yeah, maps.me will solve that problem plus you can use it without the internet.

Tips for Saving Money on Jeju Island

Eeeekk. Jeju Island was a bit more expensive than we had anticipated. This is what we did to save some money.

We ate out once and no more than twice per day. Usually, our breakfast was bought at a 711! They have hard boiled eggs and a pastry or perhaps some fruit there.

We bought that stuff for our breakfasts so we could save some money, have a semi-western breakfast (I don’t like rice in the mornings!), and so we could save time and hit the road rather than walk around trying to find a breakfast joint.

If we were being extra poor, our dinner would just be a bowl of ramen from the convenience stores.

Some places we found ramen to sell for something like 7,000 while one from the store was only 800 won. Of course, it’s not fresh, but at the same time, 7000 for a whatever bowl of soup wasn’t really something I fancied every night.

There’s hardly anything for vegetarians in South Korea as well, so I found it hard to spend money in restaurants when all I could have was a noodle soup.

There’s only so much noodle soup I care to eat and they often only had a few slivers of vegetables, so why spend the money on it?

We didn’t book accommodation ahead of time!

• We were road tripping and weren’t 100% sure where we would end up for the night and didn’t want to tie ourselves down to a spot.
• We arrived at each place in the evening hours and figured we could probably get a better price because it would be rare for anyone else to really walk in wanting a room. We were right. They were more willing to negotiate prices since we were walk-ins. TIP: Check their prices on Agoda first for a price base and to see if they even have availability, then walk in and ask.

Random Observations I Noticed Traveling Around Jeju Island and South Korea

(Keeping in mind I only stayed around Seoul and Jeju, these are just some random observations!)

• Toiletries are available even in the cheapest of hotels. I’m taking full bottle shampoos, conditioners, body wash, and toothpaste! I haven’t seen this before. Pretty sweet! Most also have hairdryers, fridges, and more, which in my experience, are usually something extra and not provided at the budget places.
• English isn’t easy, especially on Jeju. Most don’t speak it. If you’re going to have any luck, speak to a younger person as most older generations never learned it. Download Google Translate – it’s life-saving.
• Tiny towels. Why? lol. Why are most of the towels, shower towels at that, so tiny?
• Internet passwords are almost nonexistent in the hotels I was at. I couldn’t decide if this was convenient or concerning…

I thought it was nice. Nothing less, nothing more.

The natural beauty is really something else, but the vibe felt a bit “plastic” to me. Everything is very built up and very made for tourism. To the point where there’s no “flavor.”

There’s nothing mysterious, there’s nothing too adventurous, everything is almost too easy. Maybe I’m crazy for saying this? But yeah, I was kind of a bit disappointed by the lack of… adventure? Discovery?

The island is almost too easy and ready for tourists that it feels like it’s a machine just churning out mini batches of tourists.

I will also say that we went in low season.

HOWEVER, I was so surprised by the amount of tourist still out. Granted, we were literally the only *white* foreigners on the island. I kid you not, but there were still plenty of other tourists from neighboring countries and from other parts of South Korea.

So I can only image how packed and inundate the island gets during high season.

This is just ME and my opinion. Go see for yourself.

I’d never ever in a million year dissuade people from going anywhere, but yeah, this was my thought on Jeju, Again, it was NICE and we, of course, had a great time!

So that’s it for the main things to do in Jeju Island, especially for those who are wanting a road trip around Jeju.

We DEFINITELY made the right choice by renting a car. Not only was it cheaper to do so, it allowed us to have more freedom to roam the island and saved time as buses would have taken so much longer.

Well, like always, I booked with Skyscanner !  I always find my best and cheapest flight deals through them, plus their “everywhere” feature is just way too fun! Check out my  cheap flights with Skyscanner guide  to find out how I get my flights!

WARNING: Making itineraries with Skyscanner is totally addicting. I can’t be responsible for any spontaneous flight purchasing!

Are you off to road trip Jeju Island? What do you think you’re most excited to see?

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10 Comments

Sunrise Peak was easily the best place for me, felt good getting up that early and making the most of the day.

the car rental i used was redcap and they made me pay extra for insurance for a K5 car and even refused giving me a car with English GPS even though my airbnb host in Seoul specifically emailed them for it.Did i get conned on the insurance?

Just curious about the accommodations. Did you stay in multiple locations or you just stayed at 1 location while you were in Jeju?

Great blog btw 🙂

We stayed in four different spots as indicated in the post. You can also read this !

I’m going jeju this month and planning to drive tour the island. Your blog is a great help for my planning. Thanks !!

Awesome, Penny! Have fun!

We are planning to rent a car in seoul & drive all the way to Busan. Off coz in Jeju we also need to get a car for convenient road trip.

Any car rental recommendations? Thanks

As the blog mentioned, I used Sixt.

I was in South Korea in January and I wanted to go here but I didn’t have time!! I’ll definitely be back though – it’s so cheap and easy to get to there from here in Japan (like a $200 round trip 1 hour flight)! I didn’t realize there were so many waterfalls. It’s gorgeous. I really want to see the female divers in action. I’ve watched a lot of documentaries on them, and I want to see it with my own eyes before there aren’t any left.

Thanks, Rika! I hope you do get to visit. I can imagine you’re super interested in the women divers 🙂 They are amazing! It was so cold! I can’t believe they go diving in those waters. And then they sit there chopping up and making the seafood dishes later too. Whoa!

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4-Day Jeju Itinerary Under S$500 — Road Trip Adventure Around South Korea’s Island Paradise

What’s a road trip without some horses, submarines, and jaw-dropping sunrise hikes? This Jeju itinerary covers the island’s best.

Ah, South Korea: Undeniably many Singaporeans’ favourite holiday destination — and for damn good reason! There’re limitless Korean BBQ and kimchi to devour, K-pop and dramas to invest your soul in, and mountains of cheap cosmetics to shop for. Just these are enough to make anyone fly to Seoul or Busan .

Most travellers make a beeline for the cities. However, South Korea’s breathtaking islands shouldn’t be overlooked! Besides the dreamy Nami Island , we also recommend heading to the country’s biggest: Jeju Island .

Just an hour’s flight from Seoul or Busan, the volcanic island is filled with many wonderful beaches to relax at, challenging mountains to climb, and fun attractions to visit. With so many things to do, it’s little wonder why Jeju is a perfect spot for anyone who wants a relaxing weekend getaway. It’s also little wonder why Jeju is South Korea’s honeymoon island — well, unofficial. But who’s keeping tabs? 😛

Before you dive right in, you should know that Jeju Island is twice the size of Singapore. The easiest way to get around is to rent a car, but we’ve included some alternatives below if you don’t want to get behind the wheel.

Budget Breakdown for 4-Day Jeju Itinerary

Accommodation:  S$87.42 Transport:  S$63.23 (incl. 4-day car rental) Activities:  S$163.45 Food & Miscellaneous:  S$184.90

Total:  S$499/pax (cost was split amongst 4 pax) ( Click here for detailed breakdown )

Check Flights to Jeju

Flights aren’t included in this Jeju itinerary as prices vary depending on the season. That said, plenty of flights depart for Jeju daily from Seoul and Busan. Prices can even start from as low as S$23! Check current flight prices to Jeju here .

Jeju Itinerary Road Trip Route

Our Jeju itinerary mainly explores Jeju city, as well as the Eastern and Southern parts of the island. Highlights include hiking Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak at sunrise, going on an underwater submarine adventure, and exploring Jeju’s natural wonders. It’s rather busy, but better an action-packed road trip than a boring one!

Day 1: Jeju City — Eastern Jeju 

Indulge at the famous black pork (heuk-dwaeji 흑돼지) street.

You may have had KBBQ, but have you had KBBQ with Jeju’s black pork? At the Black Pork Street , rows of restaurants serve the delectable delicacy. Cooked over charcoal, the fine black pork is grilled with garlic to tender perfection. To eat, just wrap the meat in a perilla leaf with kimchi and beansprouts, then shovel it all in your mouth!

If you’ve still got stomach space at the end of the meal, order some rice to mix with the leftover veggies and meat on the grill. Now, you have your very own bokkeumbap ( kimchi fried rice).

Cost: ₩24,000/pax (~S$28.10) Opening hours: Varies; most restaurants open from 11AM – 12AM Address: Gwandeong-ro 15(sibo)-gil,  Jeju -si,  Jeju -do

Cross the Yongyeon Suspension Bridge (용연계곡)

Located near the airport, the Yongyeon Suspension Bridge is a very scenic area. On one side, there’s a picturesque gorge with lush greenery and deep blue waters. On the other, you get clear views of the ocean and planes landing in the distance. The bridge lights up at night, so you’d still get excellent scenery at any time of the day.

Address: 2581-4, Yongdam 1-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju Tel: 728-2755 Parking: Paid parking lot nearby for ₩2,000 (~S$2.30)

*Photo Pro-tip: Walk up the short hill by the side of the entrance to get wider photos of the suspension bridge.

Explore Manjanggul Cave (만장굴)

Massive enough to fit entire streetlamps inside, the Manjanggul Cave is one of the largest lava tubes in the world. Within the cave, you’ll come across well-preserved lava formations like stalactites, flowlines, and benches. There’s also the world’s largest lava column, standing at 7.6m.

As the cave is wet and has uneven surfaces, it’s advisable to wear a jacket and proper footwear.

Entrance Fee: ₩4,000 (~S$4.70) Opening Hours: 9AM – 6PM (last entry at 5:10PM), closed on first Wednesday of the month Tel: 783-4818 Parking: Free on premises

Dine on Succulent Abalone at Myeongjin Jeonbok (명진전복)

Popular with locals and foreigners alike, Myeongjin Jeonbok Abalone Restaurant sells fresh, highly sought-after abalone. There’re only four items on their menu: Abalone porridge, abalone sizzling stone rice, grilled and sliced raw abalones. TL;DR: They’re all good .

Although the porridge was the apparent “must-try”, we preferred the charred flavours of the fragrant abalone stone rice. Served in a large pot, it’s big enough to share. The meal also comes with an appetising fried mackerel, completely free of charge!

Cost: ₩12,000 – ₩30,000 (~S$14 – ~S$35.10) Opening Hours: 9:30AM – 9:30PM, closed on Tuesdays Tel: 782-9944 Parking: Free on premises

Accommodation: Klook — we stayed in a hotel near Seongsan Ilchulbong for ~S$53.30/night for a standard twin room. The best part? It’s a walking distance to Sunrise Peak!

Day 2: Eastern Jeju — Southern Jeju (Seogwipo) 

Climb up seongsan ilchulbong (성산일출봉).

Seongsan Ilchulbong is an enormous tuff cone crater that doubles as a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Jeju’s most well-known attractions.

It’s also called “sunrise peak”, and sees dozens of early-morning hikers racing up a stairway to catch daybreak. This Jeju itinerary joins in on the action and was rewarded with a magnificent view of the sunrise. So magnificent that (no kidding) people started clapping when the sun rose. Yay, sun!

Photo credit: Thisiskoreatours.com

No worries if you’re not an early riser. At other times of the day, you can still head up the peak to enjoy a spectacular vantage view. Catch the Jeju haenyeo (women divers) perform at 1:30PM and 3:30PM at the bottom of the crater. These tough, elderly ladies will free-dive for fresh shellfish in blistering cold waters — pretty sick considering they’re old enough to be your grandma!

Entrance Fee: ₩5,000 (~S$2.30) Trail Closing Times: Every first Monday of the month Tel: 783-0959 Parking: Free on premises

Savour Fresh Seafood at the Baekgi Haenyeo House (백기해녀의 집)

Besides watching the haenyeo dive for shellfish, why not taste the fruits (or seafood) of their labour too? Like the ama of Japan, the Baekgi Haenyeo House is a haenyeo hut-cum-eatery that dishes out seafood harvested and cooked by the female divers.

We ordered the chopped noodles with sea urchin (₩10,000, ~S$11.70) and sea urchin seaweed soup (₩12,000, ~S$14). Served piping hot, we liked how springy the handmade noodles were. The generous amount of sea urchins in the light broth was also delicious and nourishing.

Unfortunately, the divers knew limited English so we couldn’t ask them about their diving stories. However, it’s something you can do if you’re travelling with a translator or someone who’s proficient in Korean. It’ll make the authentic dining experience more fascinating.

Cost: ₩10,000 – ₩40,000 (~S$11.70 – ~S$46.60) Opening Hours: 8AM – 6PM Tel: 782-0673 Parking: Free on premises

Roam around Aqua Planet Jeju (한화아쿠아플라넷 제주)

Otterly adorable!

There’s a whimsical beauty about aquariums that can make anyone go “ oooh ” or “ aaahhh “. Aqua Planet Jeju is no different. The sizeable aquarium is home to a variety of animals like otters, rays, seals, walruses, bottlenose dolphins, and sharks.

Aqua Planet also has numerous programmes throughout the day. A drawback is that they’re only in Korean, but are still interesting to watch. We highly recommend catching the haenyeo diving demonstration at the main tank. Before your very eyes, two women dive deep to 8m to harvest shellfish — all while holding their breaths for a minute!

Cost: From ~S$29 Opening Hours: 10AM – 6PM (last entry at 5PM) Tel: 780-0900 Parking: Free on premises

Ride like the Wind at Jeju Seri World

Photo credit: Klook

After an hour’s drive towards the South of Jeju, take a break to experience actual horsepower instead! At Jeju Seri World, you get to ride adorably furry horses through the lush landscape of the place.

While you’re on the horse, be sure to look out for the Seogwipo World Cup Stadium which served as one of the playing venues for the 2002 World Cup . There’s a lot of bouncing involved, so hang on tight!

Jeju Seri World is also home to a cart riding experience that allows you to drive down a thrilling race track — perfect for adrenaline junkies. You can also make your way through the scenic camellia and cedar trees of the maze park while you’re there!

Cost: ~S$6.60 (Short Course Horse Riding), ~S$13.40 (Cart Riding Experience) , ~S$4.40 (Maze Park Experience) Opening Hours: 9AM – 7PM Tel: +82 64-739-8254

Accommodation: Klook — we stayed in a hotel in Seogwipo for ~S$60.77/night for a deluxe double room.

Day 3: Southern Jeju 

Feast on local korean eats.

What’s a Jeju itinerary without some good grub? In Seogwipo, you can get an extensive variety of local foods at the Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market (서귀포 매일올레시장). These include snacks like spicy tteokbokki (rice cakes) and cheesy squid pancakes. For more lavish meals, head to the restaurants on Arang Joeul Food Street .

Warning: Korean food is much spicier in Korea!

We had our Korean chicken cravings satisfied at Don Chicken (돈치킨). The eatery serves absurdly juicy grilled chicken, instead of typical fried ones. We also ate at Yongwoo-dong (용우동), a simple diner that serves comforting Korean dishes under ₩10,000 (~S$11.70).

Go on an Underwater Submarine Adventure

Like on land, did you know the ocean undergoes changing seasons as well? On a Seogwipo Submarine Adventure , you’ll learn intriguing facts about underwater life in a commercial submarine. The Seogwipo submarine will also dive to depths of up to 40–45m. There, you get to view colourful fishes, soft corals, and even an old shipwreck up-close.

Cost: ₩65,000 ( ~S$78 ) Tour Timings: Every 40 minutes from 10AM – 3:20PM Tel: 732-6060 Parking: ₩1,000 per adult (aged 25 and above)

Visit Jeju’s Natural Wonders

Jeju Island holds many natural gems ranging from waterfalls to rock formations. Our Jeju itinerary mainly explores the ones within Seogwipo city, which are close by each other.

One of the most popular icons is Jeongbang Falls (정방폭포). The 23m waterfall is the only one that falls directly into the ocean and is a pretty place to take photos. Nearby, there’s also a makeshift tent where you can purchase fresh shellfish harvested and prepared by the haenyeo . Entry to the waterfall costs ₩2,000 (~S$2.30).

Cheonjiyeon Waterfall (천지연폭포) is easily one of the most beautiful places on Jeju Island. The falls are surrounded by a well-kept park, perfect for a leisurely stroll even at night. Entry to the waterfall similarly costs ₩2,000 (~S$2.30).

Oedolgae Rock (외돌개) is another famous attraction. Legend has it that the solitary rock came to be after a grandmother waited a long time for her husband to return from fishing, that she turned into rock. Besides viewing the rock, you can also wander around the forested area and catch the sunset. Parking costs ₩2,000 (~S$2.30).

Day 4: Southern Jeju — Jeju City

Marvel at jusangjeollidae cliffs.

A geologic wonder, the Jusangjeollidae Cliffs (주상절리대) were born from molten lava cooling down to form intricate hexagonal rock columns. One of Jeju’s national icons, the cliff face makes a great photo-taking stop.

Entrance Fee: ₩2,000 (~S$2.30) Opening Hours: 9AM – 6PM Tel: 738-1521 Parking: Paid parking for ₩1,000 – ₩3,000

*Pro-tip: To avoid the crowds on the viewing platform, follow the signs to the Promenade instead. The open-spaced park is far less busy and offers equally clear views of the cliffs.

Meet Fuzzy Friends at the Teddy Bear Museum (테디베어박물관)

For the young and young at heart, the Jeju Teddy Bear Museum displays a diverse collection of the beloved cuddly toy. From a towering 9m-tall teddy bear, to bear renditions of masterpieces like the Creation of Adam, the cutesy museum has plenty of things to see.

The museum also houses the world’s most expensive bear: A luxurious Louis Vuitton teddy bear (with matching luggage). In 2000, the bear fetched a mindblowing price of nearly €2 million in a charity auction. Beary luxurious indeed!

Entrance Fee: ₩10,000 ( ~S$12 ) Opening Hours: 9AM – 7PM (last entry at 6PM) Tel: 738-7600 Parking: Free on premises

Taste Tea and More at Osulloc Tea Museum (오설록 티하우스)

A popular tourist destination, the Osulloc Tea Museum is admittedly more of a tea house than a museum. There’s a small exhibit describing the history of Jeju’s tea plantations, but the main highlight is the cafe that sells desserts and a wide selection of green tea and special blends.

We ordered a set consisting of Green Tea O Fredo, a slice of Green Tea Swiss Roll Cake and Green Tea Ice Cream (₩17,300, ~S$20.15). Though pricey, we liked how the desserts had a rich green tea flavour, and were not too bitter or overbearingly sweet.

Before the food coma sets in, head outside to wander around the surrounding green tea fields. Reminiscent of Cameron Highlands , the fields are a lovely place to chill out, breathe in the crisp cool air, and snap loads of photos.

Entrance Fee: Free Opening Hours: 9AM – 6PM Tel: 794-5312 Parking: Free on premises

Be Amazed by the Floral Paradise at Camellia Hill

Photo credit: @camelliahilljeju via Instagram

Just a 15 min drive away from the museum lies Camellia Hill , the biggest Camellia arboretum in East Asia. Located in Sanchang Village, the 20-hectare park is a floral oasis and is home to 6,000 camellia trees and over 500 different types of flowers and plants.

Once you’ve snapped those insta-worthy pics with the epic floral backdrop, you can also check out the gallery exhibiting camellia-themed crafts.

Entrance Fee: ~S$5.65 Opening Hours: 8:30AM – 6PM Tel: +82 64-792-0088 Address: 166 Byeongang-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

If You Have More Days

Hike mt halla (한라산).

Standing at an impressive 1,950m, Mt Halla is South Korea’s largest mountain. It’s an immensely beautiful place that deserves to be on every Jeju itinerary if you have more time. There’re several trails around the mountain, but only two lead to the summit. If you plan on ascending, start early as there’s a cut-off time to ensure hikers have enough daylight to trek down.

For shorter walks, we recommend the Yeongsil Trail which is the best for viewing autumn foliage. The Eoseungsaengak Trail also has a high pay-off. After a 30-minute hike up, you get panoramic views of Mt Halla and its surrounding peaks.

Explore Jeju City

Jeju city itself has loads to keep you entertained! Besides driving, one of the more convenient ways to get around is the Jeju City Bus . The hop-on-hop-off bus tours the city in a scenic two-hour drive, stopping at attractions like Dongmun Traditional Market (동문재래시장) and Sanjideungdae Lighthouse (산지등대). We recommend getting the one-day pass (₩12,000) to maximise your journey.

Be warned: It can get super chilly at the top, especially in autumn and winter, so bundle up to stay warm!

Visit Jeju’s Unique Museums 

Photo credit: Digitiser2000.com

Jeju Island is as peculiar as it is beautiful, and this manifests in quirky museums scattered around the island. The most sexciting one is Jeju Loveland (제주러브랜드), a NSFW museum dedicated to sensuality and eroticism. Age isn’t just a number, though — you need to be aged 20 and above to enter.

Not all museums in Jeju are this embarrassing, fortunately. The more family-friendly ones include Hello Kitty Island (헬로키티아일랜드) and the World Automobile Museum (세계자동차제주박물관). There’s also a Glass Castle (제주 유리의성) where you can run through an all-glass labyrinth. Just be careful not to break anything.

Shop around Jeju’s Five-Day Market (제주시민속오일장)

Photo credit: Visitjeju.net

2, 7, 12, 17, 22, 27 — if you happen to be in Jeju during these dates, add the Jeju Five-Day Market to your Jeju itinerary! It’s one of the oldest traditional markets in South Korea, selling a wide array of fresh produce, clothing, and street food.

Other regions in Jeju Island also have their own five-day traditional markets. Check the list of dates and locations here .

Bum around Jeju’s Beaches

Woljeongri Beach. Photo credit: Visitjeju.net

As a volcanic island, you can expect Jeju’s beaches to be some of the very best! Located at all corners of the island, they’re perfect for watersports, picnics, or some good ol’ chilling out. The most notable ones include Woljeongri Beach (월정리 해수욕장), Hyeopjae Beach (협재해수욕장), and Yongmeori Beach (용머리해안).

Getting around Jeju Island

Car Rental: We rented ours from Klook . A standard sedan car costs ~S$198 for four days but when you share it with three other friends, it comes down to only ~S$49.50/pax! Driving tips in Jeju below !

For non-drivers

(1) Jeju Island day tours: If you only have a short amount of time, hopping on a Jeju Island UNESCO Day Tour is a great way to cover some of Jeju’s best attractions.

Selecting the Jeju East Route Day Tour (Tue, Thu, Sat) will lead you to Jeju’s natural wonders like Manjanggul Cave and Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak. You also get to explore Woljengri Beach, one of Jeju’s most stunning beaches with its emerald waters and relaxing atmosphere.

The South Route Day Tour (Mon, Wed, Fri) provides a delightful mix of Jeju’s nature and cultural side. Participants can explore the famous Yakcheonsa Temple, marvel at the interesting Jusangjeolli Cliffs, and even hike the Eoseungsaengak Trail at Mt Halla!

(2) Private car charter: Hiring a Jeju private car charter is ideal for those who don’t like to be bogged down by the strict schedule that comes with day tours. You can also enjoy greater freedom and flexibility in your itinerary. The car charter can be booked for a total duration of 8 hours, between 8AM and 10PM — enough to visit four or five attractions.

(3) Jeju City Bus: To explore Jeju, the Jeju City Bus provides a hassle-free way of sightseeing. A one-day pass allows you to hop-on-hop-off whenever and wherever you like. It’s a pretty efficient way of touring the city — you just need to plan which attractions you’d like to see!

(4) Public transport: Jeju has an islandwide public bus service . These include intercity buses, airport shuttles, and tourist shuttle buses. A one-way fare typically costs ₩1,200. While cheap, the downsides are that the journeys and intervals are long.

Alternatively, you can hire a taxi to reach your destination faster. The basic fare starts from ₩2,200 – ₩3,800 (~S$2.60 – ~S$4.50).

4G SIM Card: Whether you’re a driver or not, it’s important to stay connected with trustable connection. We ordered this SIM card at ~S$24.90, and it was delivered to our office in Singapore before we left for South Korea. The card comes with 5GB of data (for 20 days), and provided good coverage throughout our road trip.

Activities in Jeju Island

We booked our activities via Klook and got to enjoy savings as compared to purchasing on the spot. Booking with Klook was also a smooth, fuss-free process without any language barriers. This minimised any chances of miscommunication with the vendors, so we could fully enjoy ourselves on our island adventure!

To help ease your Jeju itinerary planning, here’s a summary of what we booked:

– 4G SIM Card (SG Delivery) for South Korea (~S$26.50) – Jeju Seri World: Short Course Horse Riding (~S$6.60), Cart Riding Experience (~S$13.40), Mazepark Experience (~S$4.40) – Aqua Planet Jeju Admission Ticket (~S$29) – Camellia Hill Entrance Ticket (~S$5.65)

Jeju combines the best of South Korea’s goodies (e.g. KBBQ, shopping) with the amazing experiences you’d get from an island vacation. 👙🌴 Whether you’re driving or not, Jeju will definitely spoil you with its incredible nature spots and ultra-relaxed vibes. So what are you waiting for? Grab this Jeju itinerary and go!

Read also: 4D3N Busan Itinerary — Why You Need To Spend More Than A Day Trip In Korea’s Charming Coastal City

Driving Tips 

0) Avoid driving with a finger injury.

1) Get an International Driving Permit. You’ll need to provide this document and your passport for verification when collecting your rental car.

2) Read up on traffic rules. Koreans drive on the right, which means you can turn right even on a red light. Do keep a lookout for pedestrians if you’re doing so. Speed cameras are also all over Jeju, so lay off the accelerator pedal.

3) Take extra care when driving at night. There’re no streetlights along the way. Additionally, the warm and humid environment of Jeju may produce heavy fog at night.

4) Prepare the telephone numbers of your destinations.  Enter them into the car’s GPS for quick and easy navigation. Use this website to find telephone numbers of places not listed in this itinerary.

5) Download navigation apps like Kakao or Naver Maps. Google Maps doesn’t work in South Korea — the most it does is only for public transportation. We used Naver Maps to plan our itinerary and search for amenities like petrol stations. Alternatively, you can also use Kakao Maps .

Ready for your Jeju adventure? Check flight prices now with this nifty widget:

If you can’t see the widget above, click here instead to check flights from South Korea to Jeju !

What did you think of this Jeju itinerary? Share with us in the comments below!

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Hi Travel Intern,

Need some help to the following.

Qcode. I’ve came across, some websites, a number of people have issue filling up address or phone number. Do you guys encounter any problem registering? Let’s say, if we can’t register before our flight. What should we need to do?

Naver Map. Is it necessary to sign up? If so, can we use our own HP no. to register? Is Naver Map an English speaking GPS? We’ve to key in destination’s phone number. If no phone number available, can we just key in address in English? If missing a turn or whatever. Will Naver Map, reroute like Google map?

Kakao T. Is it necessary to sign up? Or we can just flag a taxi anywhere?

Self-drive. I drive alot here. Any advice for first timer on left hand drive? I’m abit confused on their traffic light system though. Especially the Left turn Sign at the traffic light. The green arrow, and without green arrow, whether when can we actually make a left turn. Did I confused you? Hahaha… Where I can learn more about that “highway code”?

Thank you for your kind attention.

Regards Lav

Best Regards Lav

1. Qcode — We didn’t do this as we travelled on VTL. You can register with the hotel address and number.

2. Naver Map works well if you’re walking or taking public transport. If you’re self-driving, it works only for Samsung phones. We tried registering on iPhone but had difficulty. You may also need a local number to do so. Do look for the Korean address of the places as the map system don’t recognise all English addresses. We can’t remember about rerouting, do share if you’ve figured this out in Korea!

3. Kakao — We never tried as it seemingly needed a local number to register. Yup, cabs are easy to flag, or ask a local to help you book.

4. Self-drive — We were confused too at the start but mostly just followed what the locals do. A safe tip is to google what the traffic rules in Korea are!

Hi Edelyn, Thanks for your reply.

Hi Edelyn, It’s me again. Would like to check with you, how is the parking like or rather how should I pay for the parking lot in Jeju. For example, the road side parking, and those parking with barrier gate system.

Thank you Lav

Hi Lav! The team didn’t really have a problem parking in Jeju as most of the places were tourist attractions with free parking. For those with barrier gate systems, you can just use a credit card to pay when you exit. For roadside parking, it should be fine to park as long as there aren’t any obvious parking signs, lol. What the team did when they weren’t sure was to ask the locals staying in the area/from cafes or shops, if they could park at the area 🙂 Hope this helps! 🙂 Edelyn

Hi Edelyn Thanks for the prompt reply.

Cheers! Lav

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Jeju Island Road Trip Guide for 1 Epic Week

If you are looking for an epic adventure in South Korea, go on a Jeju Island road trip! Explore Jeju’s picturesque beaches, UNESCO sites, and unique local culture with this 1-week Jeju Island road trip guide.

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Rent a Car in Jeju

The perfect Jeju Island road trip requires the perfect ride. We went with Billycar , a low-cost car hire service in Jeju, and can really recommend it.

Billycar offers a vehicle for 32,000 won ($28) per day on weekdays during the non-peak season. We went with a gorgeous teal Mini Cooper convertible and paid around 600,000 KRW for a week.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Linda | German Traveler (@lindagoeseast) on Aug 30, 2020 at 7:00am PDT

When to do a Jeju Island Road Trip

Jeju Island has four distinct seasons but the island’s climate temperate. It rarely falls below the freezing point even in the winter season.

See spring burst into bloom in March

Spring is a great time to visit Jeju. Wildflowers cover the island with color during this time. Mid-March to early April is generally the best time to see flowers. At the very end of March or beginning of April, cherry blossom season starts and usually lasts for around 10 days.

Beaches open for swimming in June

Summer season starts around the end of June when temperatures are up to an average high of 24ºC (75ºF). This is also when all the beaches are open for swimming.

Still, I recommend keeping a lightweight windbreaker with you since Jeju’s strong winds often lower temperatures along the coast and at higher altitudes.

July and August are the hottest months of the year. temperatures rise to around 29ºC with very little rain and warm and humid weather. July and August are perfect for surfing (the best waves are between June to October), diving, and swimming.

Visiting Jeju Island in September

Jeju’s weather stays warm longer than that of Seoul or Busan but there are crisp autumn winds by the end of September. Many Koreans like to extend summer by visiting Jeju for Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) in September/October.

Enjoy the island’s harvest in October

Explore hiking trails in november, amazing experiences in jeju.

• Wind 1947 Cart Riding Experience in Jeju
• Gimnyeong Yacht Cruise Tour
• Soingook Theme Park Admission Ticket
• Luxury Sailing Cruise
• Jeju Outdoor Couple Photoshoot and Wedding Photography
• Jeju Eastern and Western Island Snap Photo Bus Tour
• Jeju Stone Park Admission Ticket

Counterclockwise Circle Jeju Island Road Trip Itinerary

Starting and ending in Jeju City.

Highlights: Handam Coastal Walk, Geumneung Beach, Osulloc Tea Museum, Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls, Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff, Seongsan Ilchulbong

Day 1 and 2

Jeju island road trip, start: jeju city / aewol area.

Itinerary: This Jeju Island road trip itinerary will take you one week.

One of my favorite areas in Jeju was Aewol. This part of the island is a popular vacation destination because, for one, it is close to the airport, and secondly, it has two beautiful beaches: expansive Gwakji, with fine sand and a cold-water spring, and Hyeopjae, a popular sunset vantage point.

It’s perfect for those who only have a short stay in Jeju and a great start for your Jeju Island road trip. This is especially true because the Aewol area offers various picturesque coastal roads with views over the Korea Strait, and many cute cafes and restaurants along the journey.

What to do in Aewol

The following stops are located in both Aewol-eup and Hallim-eup, an adjacent area that often falls under the greater Aewol area.

Handam Coastal Walk

This beautiful walkway along the shore was our first stop on our Jeju Island road trip. It connects Aewol-ri town with Gwakji Gwamul beach and is a picturesque and quiet walkway with many photo stops along the way. There are also smaller beaches nestled along the way, so be sure to bring your bathing suits.

Address: 1359, Gwakji-ri, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

Hyeopjae Beach

One of the most beautiful beaches on Jeju Island, Hyeopjae is also family-friendly because of its 1.2-meter shallow water.

The white beach, crystal clear water, and view of Biyangdo Island in the distance make this beach a truly outstanding scene and a must-stop on your Jeju Island road trip.

Address: 2497-1 Hyeopjae-ri, Hallim-eub, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

Café Byo Byo

I found this café on Instagram and decided to put it on my Jeju island road trip itinerary. Café Byo Byo offers some truly unique desserts, such as their signature black sesame mousse cake shaped like a traditional Jeju Harubang statue!

It not only looks incredibly cute but also tastes divine! Plus, the café is located in a beautiful country-side town with a relaxed vibe.

Address: 1936 Myeongwol-ri, Hallim-eub, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

Sing Sing EAT

This hip bar totally surprised us in a positive way. I was looking for a fun place to visit at night that serves cocktails and Sing Sing EAT was the perfect place.

I had a delicious Moscow Mule here, as well as a grilled Camembert with honey and walnuts. It was the perfect way to end our day in Jeju Island.

Address: 181 Hallim-ro, Hallim-eub, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

Best Places to Stay in Aewol

Jeju resort, marevo beach hotel, day 3 and 4, next stop: andeok area.

This is another must-visit destination for your Jeju Island road trip. Why? The scenery in Andeok is dotted with green tea fields because this is where you will find one of the best attractions in Jeju: The Osulloc Tea Museum and Innisfree Jeju House.

If you are a tea lover, I highly recommend making a stop at Sannolu Café on your way from Hallim to Andeok. It’s not only a café but a local matcha and Jeju tea dispensary, where you can sample and purchase local teas directly from their farm.

What to do in Andeok

Andeok-myeon is quite a big area stretching from central-western Jeju down south to the coast. Since the northern and southern parts of Andeok are quite different, I will list them separately below.

North Andeok

If you like matcha and tea in general, a stop at Sannolu is a must on your Jeju Island road trip. This matcha and green tea dispensary is a combination of a modern matcha café, showroom, and shop.

On their menu, you will find their own locally grown tea varieties, such as green tea with dried tangerine or Jeju black tea, as well as various matcha drinks. You can then pick up any of the teas and take them home with you. I purchased their amazing black tea and green tea with tangerine peel.

Address: 2098-4 Josu-ri, Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

Osulloc Tea Museum

I wrote a whole separate blog post about my visit to the Osulloc Tea Museum (and if it’s truly worth it).

What I enjoyed the most here were the tea fields just outside the museum, where you can watch the tea pluckers hard at work. The Innisfree Jeju House is also part of the Osulloc Tea Museum and is a great place to sit down and unwind, while trying some of their best products and enjoy some delicious drinks and desserts.

Address: 15 Shinhwayeoksa-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Jeju Shinhwa World

Ideal for resort-lovers, Jeju Shinhwa World is a fully integrated resort made up of various hotels, a casino, multiple theme parks, and many restaurants and shopping facilities. This is also the place where you will find Shinhwa Water Park, one of the largest theme parks of its kind in South Korea.

Note that the casinos are opened only to foreigners according to South Korean law.

Address: 38 Shinhwayeoksa-ro, 304 beon-gil, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Bonte Museum

I actually only found out about this unique museum when I was looking for something to do in Jeju for bad weather. I also wrote a separate blog post about Bonte Museum and recommend you check it out.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of old and new art from different local and international artists in five galleries.

Address: 69 Sallongnam-ro, 762 beon-gil, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

South Andeok

Daepyeong-ri.

I completely fell in love with this tiny fishing village on the southern coast of Andeok-myeon. We stayed here for two nights loved the relaxed vibe in the countryside of Jeju.

The village gives you a look behind Jeju’s big tourist hubs and offers a local, authentic experience. Small cute coast-side cafés and local restaurants make this town a must-visit.

Address: Daepyeong-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Café Hyuillo

Probably the most beautiful café in all of Daepyeong-ri, Café Hyuillo (or Café Holiday in English) boasts a relaxing rooftop overlooking the southern coast of Jeju island. You can even see Marado Island, the southernmost point of South Korea, from here.

You must try their signature frozen Hallasan Mountain cake – which looks and tastes absolutely divine.

Address: 786 Changcheon-ri, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Best Places to Stay in Andeok

Jeju the ocean hill pension, casa de vivaldi hotel, jeju shinhwa hotel, day 5 and 6, next stop: jungmun.

Jungmun is another main vacation destination in Jeju. The area is nestled at the foot of cliffs offering perfect conditions for surfers year-round. Jungmun Tourist Complex is a major hub in the area with a cluster of hotels, nightclubs, restaurants, and theme parks.

What to do in Jungmun

Jungmun is dominated by a beautiful coastline with sandy beaches in the south. A must-visit in Jungmun is Oedolgae, Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls and Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff.

Oedolgae Rock

Literally translating to the “Lonely Rock”, Oedolgae is a unique 20-meter tall rock formation created millions of years ago due to volcanic activity.

This place was also the filming location of the 2003 K-drama “Daejangguem” where character Hansangoong (Yang Mi-Kyung) faced her death.

Address: 791 Seohong-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls

Cheonjeyeon Falls consists of three different waterfalls that are all referred to as “The Pond of God”. consists of three sections. The first waterfall falls into a beautiful pond with a depth of 21 meters. From here, the waterfall continues downwards two more times, creating the second and third waterfalls, which then flow into the sea.

Address: 2232, Jungmun-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff

One of my favorite attractions in Jeju was the unique cliffs at Daepo Jusangjeolli and its imposing stone pillars.

These uniquely shaped pillars were formed thousands of years ago when the scorching hot lava from the eruption of Mount Hallasan followed its way into the sea of Jungmun.

The rock formations look like cubes or hexagons and almost seem as if stonemasons had carved them out.

Address: 36-30, Ieodo-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Seogwi Dawon

This lovely teahouse isn’t actually in the Jungmun area but on the way from Jungmun to Seongsan. If you enjoy tea and want to see some organic green tea fields, you should definitely give this teahouse a visit.

There only seems to be one item on the menu, which is basically a tea set – some hot black tea and cold matcha infused tea. Everyone was served this same exact tea set. The views from the teahouse overlooking the green tea fields add to the cozy and relaxed vibe.

Address: 118 Sanghyo-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Best Places to Stay in Jungmun

Grand mer hotel, the shilla jeju, day 7 and 8, last stop: seongsan.

Named after its landmark, this area is home to Seongsan Ilchulbong, an archetypal tuff cone formed by volcanic eruptions about 5 thousand years ago.

Another stop you might want to make along the way is Pyoseon Beach (표선해비치해변). It’s a very shallow and family-friendly stretch of crystal clear water.

What to do in Seongsan

The main attraction in this area is the imposing Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone that can be seen from almost everywhere along the coastline. It’s a popular area to watch the sunrise, especially on January first every new year.

Seongsan Ilchulbong

The tuff cone at Seongsan Ilchulbong used to be an island cut off from the mainland but a build-up of sand and soil formed a connection over thousands of years.

Visitors can follow a hiking trail up to the peak rising 180 meters above sea level. It’s such a beautiful location that is has been featured in many movies and dramas. Seongsan Ilchulbong was designated a natural reserve in 2000.

Address: 284-12, Ilchul-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Gwangchigi Beach

Gwangchigi Beach was one of my absolute favorite places to visit in Jeju Island. It’s the perfect place to take amazing photos of Seongsan Ilchulbong. What’s also very unique about this beach is that it is covered in black volcanic sand.

Gwangchigi Beach is also featured in the K-drama “Warm & Cozy” (맨도롱 또똣) starring Kang Sora and Yoo Yeon Seok.

Address: 224-33 Goseong-ri, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo, Jeju-do

Chuidasun Resort Tea & Meditation

We spent our last night in Jeju island at this beautiful hotel – and I did not want to ever leave! If you are into tea and meditating, you have got to stay at Chuidasun when in Jeju Island.

The Tea & Meditation Resort was an absolute highlight of my trip. All guests have access to complimentary tea classes and tastings, as well as different meditation programs. There are also tea sets set up in every room, many of which have breathtaking views of the beach across from the hotel.

Address: 2688 Haemajihaean-ro, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Ready for your Jeju Island Road Trip?

Our Jeju Island road trip was truly incredible and a vacation we will never forget. I honestly didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. I am eager to head back to Jeju and explore more hidden gems on this beautiful island.

Recommended Travel Guides for Korea

If you want to learn more about South Korea and have a handy travel guide in your pocket, check out these three options below:

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Seoul

This Top 10 Seoul guide is a great pocket guide that breaks down the best of Seoul into helpful lists of ten – from selected highlights to the best museums and galleries, and the most authentic restaurants, tearooms, bars, shops, and markets. I personally helped update the most recent version of this guide. Buy this book.

Lonely Planet Korea

You really can’t go wrong with a lonely planet guide in your hand luggage! I’m a huge fan of Lonely Planet and own this guide myself. What I love is the brand-new pull-out, passport-size ‘Just Landed’ card with wi-fi, ATM and transport info – all you need for a smooth journey from airport to hotel! Buy this book.

South Korea: The Solo Girl’s Travel Guide

Calling all my solo female travel ladies out there – this guide is amazing! Part of the #1 Travel Guidebook Series for Women (and couples), this take on South Korea will help you avoid the scams, creeps, and tourist traps and skip ahead to the cities and adventures that are worth your time (and money)! Buy this book.

Follow Linda Goes East on Instagram

Head to: @lindagoeseast

 Get your Free Seoul City Check List

This downloadable checklist for Seoul contains insider information on what to see, do, eat and where to shop and party in Seoul , South Korea.

Pin it and save it for later!

 explore more korea content.

Hi Linda, Can you advise how to make booking with Billy Car Rental as we do not seem to be able to join as member to get the member rates? We tried joining via Naver account but it prompts to select a telco operator in Korea which we are not a subscriber? Is it difficult to do the rental as it does not seem to have English customer service support? Thanks

Hello Wam! Thanks for your comment. Billy Car is a bit challenging if you don’t speak Korean. I recommend checking out klook car rental options instead: https://www.klook.com/en-US/car-rentals/results/?pick=Jeju%20International%20Airport&drop=Jeju%20International%20Airport&diffLoc=false&pDate=2023-08-07%2010%3A00&dDate=2023-08-10%2010%3A00&age=30&lat=33.510414&long=126.491354&dLat=33.510414&dLong=126.491354&code=KR&dCode=KR&iata=CJU&dIata=CJU&spm=SearchResult.SearchResult_LIST&clickId=b6778667f8%3Faid%3D2410

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Jeju Autumn Itinerary: The Best 5-Day Jeju Road Trip Route

Home > South Korea

If you’re looking for the best Jeju autumn road trip itinerary, then you’ve come to the right place! After 2 years of planning our trip to South Korea , the restrictions were finally lifted and we could head back to explore even more of this beautiful country.

I spent 1,5 months exploring the entire country and of course, Jeju was also on this list! I knew immediately that 3 days here won’t do it for me – I wanted to see Udo and still manage to relax and not feel like I need to rush to see everything. It took me a lot of time to add and remove all the cafes and locations, and this itinerary is the result of all that hard work.

The best time to visit Jeju island in autumn is in October and the beginning of November. This way you will get too see the pink muhly, silver grass, and lots of beautiful autumn foliage! I really hope you will enjoy this Jeju autumn itinerary. Jeju is also worth visiting in winter if you don’t mind the cold and if you would like to see the camellia bloom.

Day 1 – North to East Jeju

Arrive to Jeju island in the morning of the Jeju autumn itinerary and pick up your rental. Getting your rental in Jeju isn’t that straightforward for foreigners – you’ll have to follow the signs that point to the shuttle bus that will take you to your rental agency.

But once you get to the bus platform it’s very hard to know exactly where to go since it’s all in Korean and there are many bus platforms. Especially if you missed the fact that the rental agencies will take you to the bus if you speak to them at the airport (we didn’t see them). Here you can ask if any locals can help you locate the car rental agency. Then they can help you point it on the map and you can take the shuttle from the correct platform!

You can easily book a car rental in Jeju here .

After you get your rental car, get the Jeju autumn road trip started and head straight to a brunch place. We searched a fair bit to find one that doesn’t only do desserts. If you’re very hungry, opt for Eastern Part and if you’re moderately hungry or just want a light meal or a drink after eating at Eastern Part, head to Cafe Delmoondo . 

Hamdeok Beach 함덕해수욕장

Spend a few moments by Hamdeok beach, a beautiful sand beach just in front of Cafe Delmoondo. 

Jeju Stone Park 김녕미로공원

A peaceful and interesting place with lots of Jeju statues, perfect for those of you who want to learn more about Jeju folklore.

If you are very interested in seeing this entire park, I recommend setting aside at least 4 hours since it is rather big. We decided not to visit all of the places inside the park and were there for about 1,5 hours instead.

Closed on Mondays, entrance fee is W5,000 for adults.

Kimnyeong Maze Park 김녕미로공원

A cool maze that is actually not very easy to get to the end of, with lots of kids’ entertainment at the start as well. If you happen to have a drone with you, maze looks pretty cool from above as well.

Jeju rail bike 제주 레일바이크

I won’t lie – the Jeju rail bike is old and rusty. But it does make for a fun and cheap activity if you want to do something a little different on this Jeju autumn road trip! We did our ride almost at sunset and had a lot of fun. You don’t even need to pedal, you literally just sit and enjoy the views. 

Make sure you book the ticket via Trazy since they’re cheaper online, at least 2 hours in advance (if you show up and book online you need to wait for the validity because that’s how they then upcharge you at entrance).

When you’re done with the activities on the first day, make sure you have an accommodation booking as close to the port as possible, on day two you are heading to the magical Udo Island!

Day 2 – East to South Jeju

Udo island 우도.

Udo island is a small island in Korea. It is located in the southern part of Jeju island and it is the smallest of all the inhabited islands. The population of Udo Island is less than 100 people and the area of Udo Island is only 3.2 km².

Udo Island has been called “the last place on earth” because it seems like no one lives anywhere else in all of Korea. It’s the perfect place to take it easy, see some sights, eat peanut ice cream and enjoy the pretty island views.

I created a guide for Udo Island so you can see what the best things to do there are there. In the guide you will get all the tips on how to get there, as well as how to best spend your time on Udo during your Jeju autumn road trip.

More about Udo island here:

1 Day in Udo Island: A Complete Travel Guide

Jeju woman diver show.

The Jeju woman diver show happens every day at 1.30 pm and 3pm. Walk towards Sunrise Peak (Seongsan Ilchulbong) and walk towards your left, down a flight of stairs to the beach. When we came to see the show in November 2022, this was just a 10-minute song and no diving.

So we preferred seeing them in a more authentic way on Udo island.

Seongsan Ilchulbong 성산 일출봉

After the women’s diver show, you could either head up to Seongsan Ilchulbong or opt for a more relaxing way to spend the afternoon.

Seongsan Ilchulbong, also called ‘Sunrise Peak’, is a natural wonder on Jeju Island. It is a crater that has been around for about 7,000 years and was formed when the volcano erupted and then cooled down. The crater has become a popular tourist attraction in Jeju Island because of its beauty, but it also has many other features that make it worth visiting.

The crater is home to many different plants and animals, including the Jeju Black Pine tree, which is only found in this region of Korea.

We decided to skip the hike to the top of the crater, and headed towards a cafe nearby.

Orda cafe 오르다카페

If you don’t want to hike up to Seongsan Ilchulbong but still want to enjoy the beautiful views of the peak, then walk towards Orda cafe. Here you’ll find an instagrammable staircase to heaven, drink a delicious hallabong ade and enjoy the beautiful views of the peak at sunset.

After sunset, start your drive towards Seogwipo, where you will be staying for the night. When arriving in Seogwipo, do the below two things before you go to bed and get ready for a new day on the Jeju autumn road trip.

Saeseom Island Saeyeongyo Bridge 새연교

Before you check in, stop by the Saeseom Island Saeyeongyo Bridge. The reason you should see it in the evening is because the sail-like shape is lit up at night and makes for a great night-time view. The bridge is a pedestrian overpass, so you could also walk on it, but the view is much better from the location you see on the map.

Seogwipo Olle Market 서귀포 매일올레시장

After checking in and resting up a little bit, head towards the night market for some street food. I can highly recommend you find the stand with the seasoned rice in layered eggs with black pork and signature homemade roux sauce. It was super delicious!

Day 3 – South to South West Jeju

After a nice rest and a yummy breakfast, get ready for an eventful day spent in the Jeju autumn vibes.

Jeongbang Waterfall 정방폭포

The Jeongbang waterfall is 25m high and located near Seogwipo. Is the most famous waterfall on Jeju island and considered as one of the top 10 scenic wonders of the island. The entrance fee for adults is W2,000 and the walk down to the waterfall is short and easy.

Hueree Nature Life Park 휴애리 자연생활공원

A beautiful nature park and one of my favorites on this autumn Jeju road trip. The entrance fee was a little higher than a regular park (priced at W13,000 for adults), but it was worth it! We saw three different pink muhly locations and lots of beautiful photos spots.

In autumn you could also do tangerine picking here, but I wouldn’t actually recommend it. It was a bit pricey and the location for the picking wasn’t as pretty compared to going to the farm we went to.

Lemon Museum 레몬뮤지엄

After the park, head to Lemon Museum for a refreshing lemonade and lemon cake. I can highly recommend this cafe, especially when the sun is shining.

Bong Bong Tangerine Farm 봉봉감귤체험농장

There are many places in Jeju where you can go tangerine picking, but Bong Bong farm has a beautiful location, only W2,000 kilo price and you can also eat an unlimited amount of tangerines while picking! So I would highly recommend you choose this place for the picking during your Jeju autumn itinerary. It’s open every day from 10 am to 5 pm, I recommend you arrive at the latest at 4 pm though.

Cheonjiyeon Waterfall 천지연폭포

At 22m high and 12m wide, this waterfall is one of the main tourist sights on Jeju Island. The main reason it’s so popular is due to its large volcanic rocks. It’s easily accessible and makes for a good short stop for all waterfall lovers.

Oedolgae 외돌개

Oedolgae, or “lone rock pillar”, is a 20m high and 10m wide rock formation which was formed when a volcano erupted about 150,000 years ago. It’s easily accessible from a parking lot and free to enter. I recommend you visit during sunset (like this Jeju itinerary suggests), purely for the beautiful colours at this seaside location.

After you catch the sunset at this last location, I suggest you head to Don-Eogil for some black Jeju pork and then rest up before the next day. You could opt for sleeping in Seogwipo again or somewhere in between the Innisfree Jeju house and Seogwipo.

Day 4 – South West to North Jeju

Innisfree jeju house 이니스프리 제주하우스.

I am a big fan of Innisfree (a Korean skincare brand), so I really wanted to come here during this Jeju autumn road trip to have a look at the products and have something to eat. We didn’t stay very long, but we did manage to taste the lava green tea dessert and some hallabong latte. Both were okay, but nothing extraordinary. After the snack, we headed to their tea fields to take some pictures.

Once you’re done here, also feel free to visit the Osulloc Tea Museum, where you can buy some tea to take home with you.

Jusangjeollidae 주상절리대

This cliff was created when the lava from Hallasan erupted into the sea and created these spectacular volcanic rock formations. The admission fee is W2,000 for adults and you can count on spending around 30 minutes here.

Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls 천제연폭포

Of all the waterfalls we visited on Jeju island, this one was based in one of the larger areas with a little more walking (nothing tough, just a little more time-consuming). Here you will be able to see three waterfalls, the Seonim bridge and a buddhist temple.

Lunch at One and Only 원앤온리

Head over to One and Only cafe and restaurant and enjoy lunch with a beautiful view by the beach.

Manor Blanc 마노르블랑

After lunch, head to the Jeju cafe called Manor Blanc for a coffee. Make sure everyone in your company wants to have one because there’s a rule to buy a drink for entering the property and its gardens. So think of it like a slightly pricier admission fee.

The gardens are quite small, but very beautiful and have a few nice corners for pictures. I recommend you spend about an hour here. The pink muhly fields are pretty here and you can find a spot with no people – perfect for those Jeju autumn photos!

Stay Quidi 스테이 쿠이디

We decided to head to Stay Quidi , a Stayfolio property, right at check-in time. This Jeju stone house is located in the cozy town called Gwideokpogu and we felt right at home from the moment we walked through the gates.

The minimalist design with splashes of colour catered to our Scandinavian hearts and we were super excited to spend the night here. The living space features a spacious kitchen and dining area, as well as a bathroom and a relaxing space before it. The sleeping space features the comfiest bed in a beautiful bedroom, a bathroom and a hallway you’ll actually want to spend time in.

We headed to the nearby supermarket to get some BBQ and somaek supplies. We had the best evening here just drinking, eating and chatting until 2 am. I can highly recommend this house for your Jeju road trip.

Day 5 – North Jeju

The final day of the Jeju autumn itinerary! Make sure your flight back to Seoul is booked for 8 pm or later if you want to do all of the below things today.

If you chose to stay at Stay Quidi or nearby (a popular place is also this one that you might have seen on the K-drama called Doom at your Service), make sure you leave enough space for a hearty breakfast, because you’ll get a great tip for a cafe now.

Breakfast at Cafe Malona 카페 말로나

We still can’t believe the feast we got in this cafe. If you’ve traveled around Korea a while, then you’ll know they like to put sugar in everything, even bread, pizza, and hot dogs. So we struggled every day to find something savory, without sugar in it.

And Malona really delivered! If there is one thing you absolutely cannot skip, it’s the shakshouka – it was so tasty!

Saebyeol Oreum 새별오름

If you’re also coming to Jeju in the beginning of November, then Saebyeol Oreum (volcanic hill) will be covered in silver grass. While it’s much nicer to take pictures at the base of this peak, for those of you used to hike, it will be no problem going up to see the views as well.

There is no admission and the path is well maintained. If you plan to hike up, make sure you wear comfortable shoes.

Arte Museum 아르떼뮤지엄 제주

Korea’s largest immersive media art museum and the perfect place to warm up after the hike. In the Arte Museum you will be able to wander around several rooms displaying media art, surrounding yourself in beautiful sounds and scenery.

One of the coolest things here was also the possibility of coloring an animal, scanning it and sending it to the jungle. You will then see your very own creature wander the screens in the museum as well.

You will need at least an hour to see everything here. The museum is open every day and the admission fee for adults is W17,000.

Coffee at Lazy Pump 레이지펌프

If you’re into aesthetic cafes with beautiful photo spots, then Lazy Pump is a must! Order an ade and a cake, sit down and enjoy the beautiful views of the ocean.

Another cozy cafe to check out here (if you have the time) is Cafe Bomnal. It’s located just by the sea as well and you can take a little stroll while there.

White and Red Horse Lighthouse 이호테우해변 빨간말등대

After a coffee and a pick-me-up at Lazy Pump, start your drive toward the airport. The first stop as you make your way back on this Jeju autumn itinerary are the White and Red horse lighthouses. There’s parking right in front of both so you can easily see both from one spot. If you timed your day well, you’ll be here just before sunset.

Dodu Rainbow Coastal Road 도두 무지개 해안도로

The last stop before heading back to the airport is this rainbow coastal road! And don’t be too stressed if it’ll be crowded or not – it’s actually a very long strip so you’ll definitely be able to find a spot with no people. The coastal walk here has the ocean on one side and plenty of restaurants and cafes on the other. Depending on when your flight is, you could either have some dinner here or at the airport (we opted for the latter since we had to return the car rental as well).

The end of the Jeju autumn itinerary

This was all for this Jeju autumn road trip itinerary! I hope you enjoyed seeing all the autumn foliage in Jeju island. Below you can also see the map with all of the above locations. You can open the map on your laptop, or phone. If you have any questions for this Jeju road trip, just ask me below and I will do my best to help.

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Road Tripping Through Jeju Island — South Korea’s Isle of the Gods

A road trip through Jeju Island, also known as the Isle of the Gods, offers travelers the chance to go off the beaten path and explore some of the island’s most fascinating and spectacular corners.

From mountain sunrises to lava tubes, waterfalls and more, these road trip itineraries will show travelers the best of Jeju.

As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.

Start Your Day at the Sunrise Peak

Distance: 61 miles from Jeju Shinhwa World Marriott Resort

Make your base at Jeju Shinhwa World Marriott Resort , tucked into the heart of one of South Korea’s most popular theme parks. Wake before dawn to travel to watch the sunrise while sitting on one of 99 rocks surrounding the crater at Sunrise Peak ( Seongsan Ilchulbong ).

A UNESCO World Natural Heritage site on the eastern tip of the island, Seongsan Ilchulbong is actually an extinct volcano, which rose from under the sea in a volcanic eruption more than 100,000 years ago.

From the sky, it looks like a gigantic crown with the 99 sharp rocks surrounding the crater. On the northwest side of the crater, a verdant, grassy ridge leads to the quaint Seongsan Village and is an ideal spot for a walk or a scenic horse ride.

Visitors who arrive in the spring will be rewarded with views of fields teeming with yellow canola flowers. The 200-yard hike to the crater is fairly easy and takes about 20 minutes. Entrance fee is KRW 2,000 (approximately $2) per adult.

Take a Winding Walk Along the Olle Trails

Distance: 23 miles from Sunrise Peak

The Olle Trails are a series of walkable and scenic winding paths along Jeju’s coast. Drive to the Route 6 trail and look for the Soesokkak – Seogwipo Olle Route (3.2 miles).

Start the walking trail from the serene Soesokkak Bridge. Then continue walking along a stretch of coastal road and pass through the seaside town of Bomok. From the coast, you can spot the village of Seogwipo in the distance, as well as islands such as Seop-seom.

Walk toward Seogwipo, where you visit one of two picture-perfect waterfalls, Jeongbang and Cheonjiyeon. Falling directly into the ocean, Jeongbang Falls tumbles from a high cliff into the sea and is one the most famous waterfalls on Jeju Island.

As you continue to walk the trail toward Cheonjeyeon Waterfall, you’ll pass Lee Jung Seob Street, packed with craft shops, chilled-out beer bars and Bauhaus-styled restaurants. It was named after the famous Korean artist whose dwelling has been preserved and its surroundings made into a park.

Once you reach Cheonjeyeon, you’ll find interesting rock formations and pristine beaches. Known as the Pond of God, Cheonjeyeon Waterfall originates from the ceiling of a cave, and it comprises three sections. In May, during the Chilseonyeo Festival, you can actually have a soak in the falls.

Walk over the Seonimgyo Bridge, which has seven nymphs carved on both sides and thus was nicknamed “The Seven Nymphs Bridge” ( Chilseonyeogyo ). The nymphs symbolize the seven legendary nymphs that would descend from heaven at night.

Head to the Mystical Dragon Head (Yongduam) Rock

Distance: 18 miles from the Route 6 trail

After departing the trails, make your way to Dragon Head Rock. Once there, walk toward the coast to see the spectacular erosion of coastal rocks created by strong winds over thousands of years. Adding to the magical scenery, haenyeo (women divers) can be seen diving near the cliff where an abundance of sea urchins and abalone can be caught.

The age of the women-only divers averages 65 years old. These renowned and respected icons of Jeju Island can dive 32 to 65 feet without any breathing apparatus, and they catch everything barehanded. They usually sell the freshest abalones, octopuses, clams and seaweed straight from the sea.

You can try the island specialty, seaweed and sea urchin soup, at Sea Scenery restaurant. If you are not into seaweed, other Jeju specialties include pheasant, whole grilled mackerel in sea salt, and the famous barbecued pork from black pigs that can be tried at 돔베돈 Black Pork Street.

Meet the Two Dragons at Ssangyonggul Cave

Distance: 18 miles drive from Dragon Head Rock

From Dragon Head Rock, make your way to Ssangyonggul Cave. The cave is actually one of four lava tubes, including Socheongul, Hwanggeumgul and Manjanggul, and has two branches, which look like the paths of two dragons. These were formed by lava that erupted from Hallasan Mountain approximately 25 million years ago.

The Ssangyonggul lava tube is unique because it features both a lava tube and a limestone cave. The entire area surrounding the cave is composed of fossil seashells and sand, while the interior is a mystical mix of stalactites and stalagmites. Similar to the strokes of an abstract painting, lime covers the cave walls in a series of natural swirls and streaks.

Watch the Sunset at Oedolgae Rock

Distance: 20 miles from Two Dragons

Fans of K-drama must visit the Oedolgae Rock, which was featured in the iconic Korean drama “Daejanggeum.” Take a stroll along the Oedolgae walking trails for breathtaking views of the sunset over the Isle of the Gods.

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First Timer's Jeju Itinerary (3 Days, With or Without Car)

Updated: Oct 7, 2023 by Max · This post may contain affiliate links · 42 Comments

I’ve just completed my fourth trip to Jeju Island, so I think it's about time I update my itinerary— a lot can & has changed in two years! Originally I wrote this Jeju itinerary to fit all seasons, but I've since added tips for visiting in winter, and for traveling by car or by bus.

I believe that even if you only have a long weekend to explore Jeju, maybe from Seoul or Busan , there's no reason it can't still be fantastic. Both now and during the three years I was teaching English abroad in Korea, Jeju has been by far my favorite weekend getaway.

It's the perfect addition to a Korea itinerary , especially considering how inexpensive the flights are. But n o matter how many chances you have to visit, if you carefully decide on what to do, what to eat, and where to stay in Jeju, then the memories will last a lifetime.

Click here to read about to where to stay in Jeju!

Since this is a truly massive Jeju travel guide, please click around using the table of contents.

Visiting South Korea (Update)

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Those of you looking to visit South Korea are probably as confused by all the changes as I was before I visited again post-covid. But as of March 20th, 2024, masks are still required in medical settings like hospitals but are NO LONGER REQUIRED in all other indoor public places, including public transport.

Here are what document you need to visit Korea as a tourist:

• K-ETA ( Korean Electronic Travel Authorization , applied for at least 72 hours before departure) OR Visa to visit Korea (countries which previously had a visa exemption now need to apply for a K-ETA). From April 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024, passport holders from 22 countries will also temporarily NOT need a K-ETA or visa to visit Korea (includes: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macao, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, US (including Guam)). If you're a valid ABTC card holder (APEC card), you are not required to apply for a K-ETA [excluding Americans & Canadians].
• Q-Code (can also be filled out upon arrival) : visitors need to fill out information for the Korean quarantine system, known as Q-Code . Note that all travelers are now allowed in regardless of vaccination status, but you do need to have filled out your Q-Code before going through immigration.

If for some reason you need to take a covid test in a South Korea airport, the cost of a covid test in Incheon Airport is currently ₩80,000 ($60USD), with some options within Seoul as inexpensive as ₩65,000 ($50USD). There's no testing requirement to leave South Korea.

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Does it snow on Jeju? How cold does Jeju get in the winter? When is low season on Jeju? So many people have asked me about traveling to Jeju in winter that I decided to add a section on just for that. To answer the overall query: it's totally possible to visit Jeju Island during winter, and Jeju is seriously one of the most underrated places to visit in Korea during winter.

To answer the above questions: yes it snows, it can get as cold as -7C/20F, and winter is low season on Jeju. But no worries, there are plenty of things to do on Jeju , even when the temps hit single digits. Just remember:

• Pack layers, including thin heat tech layers you can remove every time you go inside places. Wintertime on Jeju runs from November to March, though the end of March will see cherry blossoms and can have some very warm days (though still some cold nights).
• Jeju weather is fickle, just like on the Korean peninsula, so in the winter it's possible to have snow anytime, though it is rare outside of December and January. Jeju in December is also really pretty, especially if it's just snowed on Hallasan. Be extra careful when driving.
• On that note, winter activities on Jeju include picking hallabong (Jeju oranges) and gyul (Jeju tangerines), without much other interference. Most things don't close on Jeju in the winter, even Hallasan; you can still hike everywhere, though I wouldn't recommend a beach day.
• Popular things to do on Jeju in winter include: Love Land, the Aquarium, wandering Camellia Hill, and visiting all of Jeju's many museums!
• If you're on Jeju from mid-December to mid-January, definitely check out the Jeju Winter Festival, if only for the street food.

So if you're deciding between Jeju or Busan in winter , I'd suggest heading to Jeju. It's quieter and the flights are more affordable, and so is the food & accommodation. Plus, unlike Busan the snow stays untouched and pristine for quite awhile on Jeju!

Transportation in Jeju can be a bit of a mess. Since it's an island, actually getting to Jeju is a relatively simple matter of taking a flight. Note that if you are flying out early from Gimpo Airport, the airport closes each night from 12am-4:30am. Though some people have a fear of flying, and may choose to get to Jeju by ferry .

Either way, once you arrive you will find yourself on the north side of the island, nearly inside Jeju City. It's certainly possible to get around Jeju by public bus or taxi, but not recommended, as the first costs lots of time, and the other costs lots of money.

But for those who hate to drive as much as I do, I've also shared tips below on how to get around Jeju by bus. As for the infamous tour packages that most Koreans seem to favor, the jury is still out on that one.

I've experienced some amazing tours in South Korea, but it certainly limits what you see and how much time you spend there. The best option by far is to rent a car, or bring your own over on the ferry from the mainland.

I've gotten around Jeju by tour bus, public bus lines, and driving a rental car. There's no metro or train system on the island, though there are ferries. So if you choose not to or simply can't rent a car on Jeju, you're left with the bus.

Traveling Jeju By Bus

As I've said, this is not my favorite option, but it's doable. If you travel Jeju by bus, you'll want to stay along the coast so you're no more than two buses from where you want to go. I recommend staying in Seogwipo, so that you can follow the itinerary below.

Your favorite bus line on Jeju will be the 201, which takes you in a ring around the island. The scene along the coast is particularly gorgeous from April to June. For your initial arrival, Jeju airport limousine bus 800 and 800-1 will take you from the airport to Seogwipo the most directly, with buses every 15 minutes between 6am-10pm daily. 

Most of the bus routes stop running just before 10pm. If you arrive after 10pm, I'd recommend staying in Jeju City for the first night; you can take the 3000's lines to a few different places, but those also stop at 12am. Taxis will always be waiting to take you somewhere, but the lines are always long at night.

Introducing the T-Money card, a transportation card like no other. Mine was attached to my credit card while I lived in Korea, but you can also get one at any of the convenience stores in Korea. You can use your T-Money card to get all around the island, even in most taxis (but always bring cash just in case).

Most fares will be ₩1250 (~$1USD) each way, though the cost of taxis depends completely upon distance. Be sure to download the Naver Maps app before arrival so that you can get bus route info immediately.

Driving in Jeju

Driving in Jeju is quite safe, with lots of open roads and several paths across the island in addition to the loop around it. A self-drive in Jeju is also the best way to see the beauty of the island's countryside vistas, stay flexible with plans in case of weather interruptions, and stay in cheaper hotels if budget is an issue. 

The only requirements to rent a car in Jeju is a license in your home country and an international license (which is applied & paid for separately, almost always before you arrive to South Korea).

Koreans drive on the right hand side of the road, just as they do in the US and most of the rest of the world. Driving in Jeju City isn't very challenging, though going into more rural parts can be challenging since the roads narrow quite a bit.

Your Korean GPS will give you numerous speed warnings every time you're approaching speed cameras (so you have no excuse for getting a ticket!), so don't freak out when it chirps and beeps at you a lot.For a car rental, Jeju Island is one of the easiest spots I've ever rented in.

We just followed the signs in the airport, took the shuttle to Lotte Rental Cars, pulled a number for help in English, and we were in our car within 15 minutes. That was on a public holiday, too! Rental Car places are called " ren-ta-ca ," so try saying that if nobody seems to be able to help you in English.

Having a car on Jeju got us to about twice as many sites across the island, not to mentioned allows you to rent a scooter on Udo Island (if that's your kind of thing).

Choosing where to stay on Jeju Island may not seem like as big a decision as it actually is. Jeju is by no means small, but it is of a manageable enough size that you could spend one night in each part of the island and still see everything you're interested in.

Yet most people wouldn't choose to change accommodation every night if they don't have to. So in this post I narrowed it down to the four best regions in which to base yourself, and a different spot for every budget and comfort level.

If you're unsure of where to stay at all, or just have a day or two, then I highly recommend you stick to the transportation hub of Jeju City. If you're spending at least 3 days on Jeju, consider splitting up your accommodation and staying in two different parts of the island.

If you follow my sample Jeju itinerary below, it would be best to stay near Udo Island on the first night, and then in Seogwipo for the last 2 nights. I know that all the place names can be confusing, so I made a map of Jeju attractions that goes along with the 3 day Jeju itinerary below. Click here to scroll to it now.

Click here to see reviews of Jeju accomodation on Agoda.

Jeju has innumerable sites that involve the sea and nature, including 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. But the island has its fair share of quirk and Korean tradition (naked hot tubs, anyone?). This list could seriously go on for hours if I listed out everything that locals do for fun.

So to stick to the more accessible stuff for 3 days in Jeju, I'll share just the weird, the natural, and the educational, divided by region. Don't forget to carry around a few extra thousand-won notes to pay for parking! 

Surprisingly, I found the points of interest in Jeju to be more accessible than those in Seoul or Busan. Most everything was available in Korean, English and Chinese, and many more people were able to speak English than I expected.

So don't shy away from something that sounds interesting, just because it looks rural. Looks can be deceiving, and Jeju Island is the land of things-built-only-as-tourist-attractions.

Love Land (erotic museum) /// ₩9000 entrance /// 9am-midnight daily

Love Land is a very blasé name for this unusual park full of penises and other erotic sculptures. It was actually opened in 2004 by a group of art students from Seoul's Hongik University (of 'Hongdae' fame). Please note that you must be at least 19 to enter the park .

Hallasan Hiking /// free /// roughly sunrise to sunset

It's tough to designate a specific starting point to hike Hallasan, considering that it's at the center of the island. Hallasan is actually an active volcano, though it ' spews no lava or smoke at the moment, and it's the reason why Jeju island exists at all. T 's safe to hike, and t he views from the top are unforgettable .

Note that it is not safe to Hike Hallasan in the rain and that you should bring extra layers no matter the weather when you start.

Orange Picking Experience /// ₩3000-₩6000 /// usually 8am-6pm

With peak orange season from November to February, orange picking is a winter activity on Jeju that most everyone participates in, local or tourist. You pay a flat fee per person to pick and eat as many oranges as you want & bring home a kilogram.

Manjanggul (lava cave) /// ₩3000 entrance /// 9am-6pm daily (closed first Wednesday of every month)

As one of Jeju's 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the 1,000 meters of cave open to the public gets quite packed on weekends. The slippery floors can become extra hazardous, so bring grippy shoes and plan to spend about an hour exploring the cave and surrounding property.

Jeongbang Waterfall /// ₩2000 entrance /// 8am-6pm

Jeongbang's claim to fame is as the only waterfall in Asia to fall directly into the ocean, which is honestly really cool sight. There's also a tiny beach in front of it, just before the vast ocean extending way beyond. The walk down is worth it in nice weather, but can be a bit treacherous in rain or snow.

Olle Trails (Oedolgae Rock) /// free /// roughly sunrise to sunset

A rock may not sound like a very impressive attraction, but this stunning viewpoint is the perfect spot from which to admire the ocean & the many small islands off the coast of this side of Jeju-do. Many people come here each day just to trek the well-trod trails and stop at a lookout every once in awhile to soak it all in.

Jusangjeolli Lava Cliffs /// ₩2000 entrance /// roughly sunrise to sunset

Often compared to the Giant's Causeway in Northern Island, the Jusangjeolli cliff faces are another act of nature bestowed upon Jeju by the volcano that formed its body. Easily less than 5 minutes from the parking lot, the cliffs are deep grey rectangular and square formations which jut picturesquely out into the ocean.

Jeju Folk Village (Jeju Minsokchon) /// ₩11000 /// 8:30am-5pm or 6pm (spring & summer)

Jeju Island is the land of the unexpected, and on my last trip I ended up in this tiny mountainous village for lunch, in an area I later learned was called Minsokchon . The traditional Jeju Folk Village appears as if it had sprung out of the mountains, populated with short, flat-rooved structures which recall traditional living on the island.

Aqua Planet Jeju /// ₩37200-₩40900 /// 10am-7pm

If you're visiting Jeju with kids, this is a must-see. This massive aquarium has not only penguins and sea lions, but whale sharks. They offer daily demonstrations and educational programs about the animals (in Korean), while all of the aquatic animals found around Jeju are in their large main building (with English signage).

Seopjikoji (scenic view point) /// free /// roughly sunrise to sunset

Just across from Seongsan is Seopjikoji, an area famous for being the filming location for several dramas and a gorgeous area, to boot. The draw here is the defined walking trail along the cliffs and a beach side restaurant, though the most gorgeous scenes are when the canola flowers bloom in the spring .

Submarine Ride to & from Udo /// ₩36000-₩55000 /// departing 8:55am-4:30pm

This is not a cheap activity, but it is one that you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Jeju is famous not only for its women divers, but also for its scuba diving. Children of all ages are able to experience the beauty of the ocean, without the need to swim in it.

Explore Udo /// ₩10.500 (same-day round trip ferry) /// 7:30/8am-⅚:30pm (varies by season)

Despite the fact that Jeju has become famous for their black pork, Udo Island is actually named for a cow, which the island is said to be shaped like. Like the rest of Jeju, Udo is know for its great views and it's beaches, but unlike the rest of Jeju, Udo has a special dessert: peanut ice cream.

Seongsan Ilchulbong (sunrise peak) /// ₩2000 /// Summer 7:10am-7pm & Winter 7:30am-6pm

The immensity of the green and the brightly colored flowers that greet you here in the spring could very well distract you from ever climbing to the top. This fairy tale mountain was formed long ago by a volcanic eruption, just like the rest of Jeju , and is great for a quick hike, and horseback riding and boating for a bit extra.

Western Jeju-do

The Chocolate Museum /// ₩6000 /// 10am-6pm

Built to resemble a castle, this massive museum is actually the second-largest chocolate museum in the world, behind the one in Cologne, Germany. Its exterior is covered in a volcanic landscape inspired by the island, while the inside smells as if it were coated in chocolate.

There are exhibits on chocolate history and chocolate making, as well as a cafe and a sales area where you can buy boxes of the sweet stuff. It's a chocolate lover's paradise, but I'll also admit that I've seen better . Note that the Jeju chocolate museum closes an hour early in winter and an hour late in summer.

Sanbangsan Carbonate Springs /// ₩12000 base entrance /// 6am-midnight (indoor hot springs)

This will be one of the strangest experiences of your life if you've never been to a Korean sauna. Everybody here is naked, albeit separated by gender. The hot springs, glorified swimming pools in many ways, are available in a variety of temperatures and with various healing properties.

O'Sulloc Tea Fields & Museum /// free /// 9am-6pm

Being a tiny museum near a massive tea field, I wouldn't expect much in the way of tea education. But if you came for the green tea products, then this is your spot. The small museum is attached to a massive cafe serving up a variety of teas from their farm, plus coffee and desserts , with an Innis Free cosmetics store a hundred meters away .

The best part for most people will be the tea plantation itself, however, which is situated across the street from the museum and simply laden with photo-ops. There are honestly so many things to do in Jeju , but it's all so different that it's unlikely that everything will appeal to you.

So just pick your favorites in each area, and then move on to the next one.

Confession time: despite being a food blogger, I don't center my schedule around meals. I might center the occasional day around dessert for dinner, but for the most part, I carry my chocolate & some almonds in my bag and like to see where the wind takes me.

It's how I travel anywhere, so it's not really fair of me to recommend you any specific restaurants around which to plan your day. However, I freely offer food recommendations, and the must-try foods on Jeju are...

• Sannakji  ("live" octopus)
• Abalone (Sea Snails)
• Green Tea Anything
• Hallabong (those big oranges grown throughout the island)
• Peanut Latte
• Jeju Chocolate

Bonus: many local friends told me that Jeju is known for their Indian food, so if you're feeling some international fare, consider going out for Indian food in Jeju (see travel tips below). 

3 days is enough to see the major sites of Jeju, so on the map I've outlined where to go for each day. This assumes that you can arrive at the first spot around 9am, and will be tired enough for dinner and relaxation around 7pm.

If this sounds like you, this may be your perfect Jeju itinerary. 3 days may not be enough for some, but never fear— not everything will appeal to you, and this is easy enough to remove stuff from or add to. You can read more about each site above.

At the bottom of the page is a map of the island, with all of these points of interest marked off. Proceed at your leisure.

Jeju Itinerary Day 1

9am // Manjanggul : If you're traveling by bus, skip to the next stop, as you won't have time for this part. Start out the day at the lava caves, a kilometer of dark, firey history, and a look into how the island was formed. You can only explore the first 1000 meters of the more than 13,000 formed.

B ut the multi-lingual signage will explain how rivers of lava burst from the earth and tunnel upwards to form the basis of modern-day Jeju Island. It's chilly down there, so bring a jacket. This can be done either first or last, depending on your starting point, but remember that they close at 6pm.

10am // Udo : The first ferry to this island is not particularly early, but they can get packed on weekends. If you're visiting on a Saturday or Sunday, be prepared to wait a bit for the next ferry, and don't forget to buy round trip tickets.

It's only a 15-minute ride, so once you're on the island, head straight from the ferry terminal to Udo Seobin Baeksa , a gorgeous beach just a 10-minute walk from the port.

Once you're there, grab some peanut ice cream and walk along the beach. Other things to do on Udo are: rent bikes to ride around the island, watch locals dive in the ocean, go horseback riding, grab a coffee on the pier, and hike Udobong. I highly recommend having black pork burgers for lunch.

4pm // Seopjikoji or Seongsan Ilchulbong at sunset : Once you've returned from your half day on Udo, head just a few kilometers down the road to the beautiful look out point of Seopjikoji.

If you don't go now, I'm afraid you'll be too tired to go at the end of the day, so just muster up the will power to see one more beautiful site, if only from just a wee bit closer up. Alternatively, even closer by is Seongsan Ilchulbong.

Walking around Seongsan Ilchulbong, I swear you'll think you're walking into a scene straight from the highlands of Northern Ireland. Seongsan Ilchulbong is one of Jeju's UNESCO World Heritage sites, and you'll immediately understand why.

Two hours is just enough to walk around and take pictures, observe the famous women divers of Jeju, maybe take a boat ride, and hike to the top of the small mountain. Going later in the day also allows you to look around without the mid-day sun glaring in your eyes, and with many fewer people.

Jeju Itinerary Day 2

9am // Jeongbang Waterfall : Literally a one minute walk to the falls (& the ocean), and another few minutes for the close-up view, this is a perfect first stop for day 2. If your legs are sore from the day before there's no need to go down for a closer look, and there's a coffee shop right in the parking lot, should you need it.

10am // Oedolgae Rock : Just like with the waterfall, this can be a more or less involved part of your trip. If it's raining or you're tired, then just walk over to where the view point is and admire the gorgeous natural scenery. Trekking is available here, however, and is quite possible. It can get rather crowded here on nice weekend afternoons, so head over before lunch.

11am // Jusangjeolli Lava Cliffs : If you're traveling by bus, skip to having lunch, as you won't have time for this part. Unlike the lava caves you (may have) visited yesterday, these cliffs are a spectacular representation of what happens after the lava shoots out of the earth.

Looking just like the legos you played with as a kid, these lava tubes are a wonderful photo-op for any kind of traveler.

11:30am // Lunch Time : Most people's favorite time of day. Head into downtown Seogwipo and look around for a barbeque restaurant that served black pork, and ask for samgyeopsal .

This is pork belly, and they'll bring it out in long strips that look like thick-cut bacon, and you can thank me later. Don't worry, all the side dishes they bring out are included in the price of the meat. Note that the more side dishes, the more respect they're showing you.

1pm // Chocolate Museum : If you're traveling by bus , you should choose 2 of the 3 activities left today. After a nice hearty meal, it's time for some dessert! Once you get over the immense grounds of this castle-like factory, head inside and learn all about how chocolate is made , and some history about chocolate (plus free samples).

Kids and adults are all huge fans of the delightful aroma and variety of samples on offer, as well as the reasonably-priced gifts in the shop, though it's definitely more of an introductory-level chocolate experience.

3pm // Green Tea Fields : Once you manage to drag yourself away from the chocolate factory, make the short drive over to the green tea fields. O'Sulloc's tea plantation is famous throughout Korea for its quality tea (despite the name, the plantation produces a number of different teas from this one variety).

But if you're still full from the pigging out and the chocolate, then work off the calories by strolling around the endless fields of green. Peak season in from April to June.

6pm // Love Land : If by some miracle you're still able to take in more sites, I highly recommend Love Land. It is Korea's only Adult Theme Park, though I think of it as more of an erotic photo zone. However, it's also open until midnight.

So if you're traveling with kids, I'd recommend grabbing dinner first and then leaving them in the hotel for a movie while you get your adulting on in the erotic theme park you never knew you would see.

Jeju Itinerary Day 3

9am // Hike Hallasan : I hope you're not still sore from walking around the day before yesterday, because today is hiking day! Sort of. Mount Halla actually has 5 trails, and each is vastly different from the others. One of them only takes half an hour each way, though you don't see much.

The route that starts at Eorimok Trail and returns down Yeongsil Trail is rightfully the most popular, however. This trip take about 5 hours total, so be sure to bring water bottles and snacks. If you're using public transport, bus 740 heads to Eorimok and stops by Yeongsil, as well.

2pm // Late Lunch : After all that exertion, it's only right to grab some nice warm soup to re-hydrate. Stop in at any of the many local restaurants at the bottom of the trail head, or head towards the hot springs and eat closer to there (though there aren't any restaurants right around the springs).

3pm // Sanbangsan Carbonate Springs : This was honestly one of the weirdest and one of my favorite parts of Jeju. There are saunas and jjimjilbangs everywhere in Korea, but outdoor hot springs or pools are much harder to find.

Especially good for relaxing your muscles after a hike and challenging your definition of too many naked people, the Sanbangsan Carbonate Springs are heavenly. You can pay the extra ₩3000 for access to the outdoor pools and hang out with your significant other.

Alternately, you can just stay in the cocoon of warmth inside, scrubbing off all the dead skin once you've had enough. General relaxation is a great theme for your last night on Jeju. Now that you have an idea of what the island has to offer, you're just about ready for your trip to Jeju Island.

• Get a sim card with calling capabilities . I literally lived in Korea for three years using only a pre-paid sim card from Olleh. That cost me ₩20000 (~$17USD) a month for 2GB of data, and another few thousand a month for calling, and it saved me many times over the years to have someone be able to call a hotel or taxi for me using my own phone.
• Speaking of calling, the Korea Travel Hotline , known to expats as the "English Help Line," should be your go-to with any issue. Simply dial 1330 and press 1 for English, and you'll be connected to someone at any hour of the day, any day of the week. They can help with ticket prices, bus schedules, attraction locations, and even translating for taxi drivers. They also speak Japanese and Chinese.
• Rent a car (remember your international driver's license!). If my helpful info on renting a car in Jeju wasn't enough convincing, keep in mind that most attractions are far from cities and far apart. Taxis can also be hard or impossible to come by after 10pm (coincidentally, also when most of the buses stop running).
• Travel the island in sections . Take a careful look at attractions' opening hours & days, because even though the island appears small at first, it can be a very long drive to backtrack to somewhere you've already been, just to see that one museum.
• It does get very cold in the winter , so pack a heavy winter coat from November-March, and a light jacket in October and April. While you could have some less cold days in the winter, it can get downright freezing in January and February.
• Just as in the rest of Korea, Google Maps isn't useful or detailed on Jeju, so do remember to download the English-language version of Naver Maps , the Korean map app.
• Try Indian food — no, seriously. Jeju has a small but sizable Indian population, and along with that, some bomb-a*s Indian food.
• Beaches close for winter , at least for swimming. Just like in the rest of Korea, from September to May you're not allowed to swim in the water around Jeju, though you can certainly still walk along the beach and take pictures. This is for safety reasons, as that water is frigid .
• Jeju has a decent salsa dance scene, but don't come here for the nightlife . Since it's mostly a family holiday and honeymoon destination, there aren't many clubs and there are few bars in Jeju City and Seogwipo. You'll have more luck finding a noraebang (Korean Karaoke bar) to sing it up in after dark (and karaoke is definitely wirth adding to you Jeju Island itinerary !) .
• Speaking of early nights, try to start your day early . Lots of attractions open around 8am or 9am, and close around 5pm or 6pm; the last ferry from Udo Islandcomes back before 7pm, so after sunset there's not much to do but sleep and set your alarm for the sunrise.

Language:  Korean people speak Korean, and most of those who work in tourism will speak a little English. Often someone will also speak some Japanese and Mandarin, while outside of tourist areas you'll have the best luck finding English-speaking young people.

There's also a strong regional accent on Jeju, so even if you speak Korean you may have trouble understanding older people.

Population: ~600,000 people.

Currency: the Korean won (KRW), written as either ₩ or 원 (in Korean). 1000 won is equal to about $0.85USD or ₱42.

Korea Visa:  While there are still 112 countries whose citizens don’t need to apply for visas before visiting Korea for 30 to 90 days, as of September 2021, ALL visitors from those approved countries still need to have an approved K-ETA before arriving in Korea. K-ETA stands for Korea-Electronic Travel Authorization.

You can check if yours is one of those visa-exempt, countries and how long your visa lasts for,  here . Common countries: USA (up to 90 days), Canada (up to 6 months), South Africa (up to 30 days), Malaysia (up to 90 days), Singapore (up to 90 days). But remember, even if you don’t need to apply for a visa, from now on you do still need to  apply for a K-ETA , which is good for two years form the date of approval.

Voltage: 220v/60Hz, with two round holes for the plug (type F).

Best Time to Visit Jeju

There's really no bad time to visit Jeju, since the weather on the island is so much milder compared to the mainland. But summer is definitely peak season, with mid-July to the end of August seeing the most visitors (when kids are off school). The best month to visit Jeju Island, and Korea in general, is in May.

Spring and Fall are my favorite times because the prices are a bit cheaper, the weather is still mild, and there are colors popping everywhere. Since most people come to Jeju for just 3 or 4 days at a time, flights are much cheaper to arrive Sunday through Wednesday & depart Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday .

Safety Level: 10/10

Because this is Jeju Island , there's really nowhere for criminals to hide. That said, just like the rest of Korea, Jeju is just generally a very safe place to explore. The entire country outlaws guns, except for the military, and the crime rate is extremely low. There aren't any dangerous parts of Jeju, either, unless you count those really tall cliffs people like to hike up to.

Sample Jeju Budget: 3 Days

This Jeju travel budget assumes you're spending 3 nights on the island, and are traveling alone using the guide above. These prices will lower a bit per person as you share the cost of a rental car. If you travel by bus & taxi combined, you'd travel slower, but spend more like $10-20 a day per person. Note that the current exchange rate is roughly 1200KRW per 1USD.

• Lodging : $70USD
• Transport : $60USD (flights are so varied in cost that those are not included in this budget, and neither is the cost of a rental car )
• Activities : $50USD
• Food : $70USD

Total : $250USD

Basic Korean Lesson

So you're all ready for your trip, but you don't know any Korean! So let's consider the language barrier. I don't discuss it much on this site, but for a native English speaker, Korean is one of the harder languages to learn. Lucky for you, I've already broken down this barrier several times over.

So to help you prepare for your trip, I've compiled a shortlist to help you order food and just be generally polite. Many Koreans speak enough English to understand your order in a restaurant, but it's always polite to throw in a little Korean.

If you get beyond ordering food in a restaurant, the language barrier only gets more obvious. I'd also highly recommend downloading a picture-capable translation app before you go, like Google Translate.

Hello //  An-nyeong-ha-se-yo . (안녕하세요.)

I don’t speak any Korean. // Han-guk-aw jal-moat-hae-yo. (한국어 잘못해요.)

Do you speak English? //  Yeong-aw jal-hae-yo?  (영어 잘해요?)

Thank you // Gam-saahm-ni-da . (감사합니다.)

How much is it? // Eol-ma-yeh-yo? (얼마예요?)

One of these, please. // Ee-gaw ha-na ju-say-yo. (이거 하나 주세요.)

It's to-go/takeout. // Po-jahng ee-eh-yo or Tay-kow-shi-yay-oh. (포장 이예요.)

Lesson complete! Now let's pack.

When deciding how many days to spend in Jeju Island, you could spend as little as 2 days in Jeju and see most of the top sights, but most visitors find 3-4 days to be ideal.

The best months to visit Jeju Island are April, May, and September, due to the open hours of attractions and lack of crowds, but still beautiful weather and reasonable prices on hotels.

Yes! Jeju Island is absolutely worth a visit, and quite beautiful at any time of year, but particularly in the spring and fall.

When figuring out how to get to Jeju Island from Seoul, there are three options, one of which is markedly more appealing than the other two: by plane. You can also take a train and then a ferry or a bus and then a ferry, but since Seoul to Jeju and vice versa is actually the most-traveled route in the world, there's no shortage of cheap flights to Jeju from Seoul.

More South Korea Travel & Life

Reader Interactions

Roxane Cordisco

February 17, 2024 at 9:35 am

Thanks for this nice article about Jeju. I am planning a 7-10 day trip to the island and I'd like to discover it by myself by scooter. Do you have any information about scooter rental agencies in Jeju? Thank you! Roxane (Belgium)

February 19, 2024 at 1:48 pm

Sorry, Roxane; I'm not very familiar with renting scooters on the island and haven't yet done so myself, but enjoy your trip & I hope you can find the info you need before heaidng out!

Danielle Ziss

February 06, 2024 at 2:11 pm

Wow - what a thorough post! Really appreciate you. Heading to Jeju in early March for 3 days. So excited!

February 06, 2024 at 2:18 pm

Thank you for the kind words!! Enjoy your trip, Danielle!

January 01, 2024 at 8:14 am

Bedankt Max voor je duidelijke en interessante reisgids voor Jeju. Wij zijn momenteel onze reis aan 't plannen voor de komende lente. Onze dochter van 19 is van sep 2023 tot mei 2024 in Seoul om Koreaans te studeren (Education First). Wij gaan met onze zoon van 22 naar Korea van 22 maart tot 9 april. Eerst gaan we naar Seoul, maar we willen zeker ook naar Jeju en Busan. Kan je ons ook helpen met tips voor Seoul en Busan en eventueel andere plaatsen die zeker de moeite zijn in onze trip? Alvast bedankt!

January 04, 2024 at 1:31 pm

Graag gedaan! Het spijt me, ik spreek geen Nederlands, dus ik gebruik Google Translate. Er zijn gidsen voor Busan hier en voor Seoul hier . Maar waarschijnlijk wil je de Korea-reisroute lezen, die lijkt op een minigids voor Zuid-Korea.

Als u de site wilt ondersteunen, kunt u ook pdf's van alle gidsen kopen om mee te nemen op uw reis (u kunt ze afdrukken of op uw telefoon bewaren).

September 10, 2023 at 5:54 am

Thank you for this post! Really helped with my planning by the different regions. I was just wondering, if it would be safe drive during Winter (late dec)?

September 10, 2023 at 8:08 pm

My pleasure, Isabelle! And yes, it would be perfectly safe as it very rarely gets even close to snowing on Jeju (maybe once a decade it flurries).

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72 Hours in Jeju: All-you-can-see Jeju Road Trip

Think themed couple wear, crystal blue waters and huge windmills dotted across endless fields. Complemented by azure sunrises and beach-themed cafés around each corner, Jeju Island is definitely one of the most scenic and romantic islands you will ever visit. 

If you only have 72 hours to spare, Jeju Island is best explored road trip-style. Here’s the most efficient way to check out Jeju’s favourite attractions! 

1. Hallasan National Park

The most majestic landmark in Jeju Island, Hallasan National Park is the first thing you should check off your list when visiting Jeju Island. Although it is the highest mountain in the whole of South Korea, the hike to the summit can be completed within 9 hours. This may sound tiring, but it will be well worth the effort for the breathtaking views from the peak.

For a lighter hiking experience, you can choose the Eorimok and Yeongsil trails, which go midway up the mountain. For experienced hikers, we recommend you take the Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa trails that will bring you to the mountain’s summit. 

If you do want to make the most out of your hike, go for the Gwaneumsa Trail, as it passes by a Guringul (lava cave) and offers the best views of Mt. Hallasan’s sloping valleys. 

Price: Free 

Address: 2070-61, 1100-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

Opening Hours: Limited to daytime hiking daily; mountain entrance hours also vary by season. 

*Protip: Wear appropriate hiking gear, and be well prepared for windy conditions

Where to stay: 2. Hotel Nanta

A 10km drive away from Mt. Hallasan, a stay at Hotel NANTA will be well worth the money spent due to its proximity to the mountain. Being relatively close to the mountain, you will not have to endure a long drive after the climb! 

All rooms are comfortable and spacious enough for families and friends to stay together. It has a great view of Mt. Hallasan, and a sparkling ocean view of Jeju. You can enjoy a buffet dinner at Cookin’, the hotel’s main restaurant, and relax by the pool afterwards. 

Address: 56-26, Seondolmokdong-gil, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea 

Official Website:  Hotel Nanta

3. Monsant Café  

Monsant Café is the most popular café on Jeju Island, which might partially be due to its famous owner – G-Dragon from Korean boyband, BIGBANG. However, the celebrity fame associated with the café is not the sole reason for its prominence. The café design is spectacular with huge mirrored doors, basal rock and crushed concrete walls. Plus, it’s also the only dining location in the area with such unique architecture. 

The café serves mainly cakes and coffee, and is relatively small compared to other cafés in the Aewol region. Hence, it may be difficult to get a seat indoors. It would be advisable to visit the café in the morning for its sunrise views, and to avoid the crowd. 

Hop onto a transparent kayak and paddle through crystal-clear waters while in the Aewol Area! Admire a rare view of the ocean right beneath your feet without getting them wet. Top off the experience with a dessert treat at the Bomnal Café afterwards (located right by the beach itself). A slice of their tiramisu cake will do wonders after a long session of kayaking. 

Address: 56-1 Aewolbukseo-gil, Aewol-eup, Cheju, Jeju-do

Opening Hours:   9.00am to 9.00pm daily

*Protip: Go early to enjoy views of the sunrise without a crowd

4. O’sulloc Tea Museum

The O’sulloc Tea Museum is one of the worthiest attractions to visit in Jeju. Walk through the island’s very own tea plantation, and have a taste of this beauty at the O’sulloc Café. With freshly made green tea, along with flavoured desserts like cakes and ice cream, you’re guaranteed to love this attraction, even if you are not a green tea fan. And with its cutely packaged green tea products, the museum is also a great place to pick up souvenirs for your loved ones! 

For beauty fanatics, the O’sulloc Tea Museum also has its very own specialty Innisfree store, which houses products exclusive to the store that is not available anywhere else. If you are travelling as a family, the Innisfree shop also provides a fun soap-making session for both adults and children. 

Price: Free

Address: 15, Sinhwayeoksa-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo, Jeju Island 63521, South Korea 

Opening Hours:  9.00am to 6.00pm daily  

5. Hyeopjae Beach 

Hyeopjae Beach is a hotspot for family friendly activities, and is often frequented by families with young children as compared to couples. In fact, many Korean families enjoy going to Hyeopjae to catch small fish and crabs in shallow tide pools, before releasing them back into the sea afterwards – a childhood activity most Koreans grow up doing. The beach allows parents to take a break from the city life and share their childhood pastimes with their children. 

Address: 329-10 Hallim-ro, Hallim-eub, Cheju, Jeju-do

6. Seongsan Ilchubong 

Climb to the peak of Seongsan Ilchulbong and enjoy the luxurious view of colourful shophouses dotting the coastal shores. A look at both sides of the peak will leave you gasping in awe, and is well worth waking up early for to catch a view of the sunrise. The climb is only 50 minutes both ways, and is manageable for people of all fitness levels.

Address: 284-12, Ilchul-ro, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Opening Hours: 1 hour before sunrise till sunset

*Protip: Go early to avoid the crowds

7. Woljeongri Beach 

Drive past the windmills to reach the scenic Woljeongri Beach, which fronts numerous beach-themed cafés designed with huge glass windows and rustic decorations. This particular beach is well-known for its cafés and photo-taking opportunities instead of water sports. 

Address: Woljeong-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

8. Woodstock Café 

The highly Instagrammable Woodstock Café is a must-visit for photo-lovers. The eatery may look plain on the outside, but its interior decor will be sure to blow your mind. Every room offers a different vibe and you’ll feel like you’re visiting 5 cafés all at once. 

To live up to the ‘café life’, order a cup of their specialty Vanilla Latte and take in the calming sea view from the soft cushion chairs – you’re guaranteed to feel relaxed. 

Address: 4-1, Woljeong-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju

Opening Hours: 8.00am - 9.00pm

9. Sehwa Beach

Just a stone’s throw away from Woljeongri Beach, Sehwa Beach is the one that truly satisfies your beach wanderlust. The cobalt blue waters feature a gradient so perfect, it looks Photoshopped! Apart from photos by the beach, you can also café hop and visit the numerous restaurants along the shore. 

Address: Sehwa-gil, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

10. Café Gongjakso Coffee and Dessert 

One of the most notable cafés to visit is Café Gongjakso Coffee and Dessert. This popular postcard café tops the charts in terms of its whimsical beach-themed design, and its bestselling items – the Yuzaide drink, Halabong Tea and carrot cake. 

Many locals and tourists purchase postcards for only 1,500 won to pen well wishes for their loved ones. You can spend some time here choosing souvenirs, writing postcards or simply sipping a cuppa while catching up with friends and family! 

Address: 1477-4 Saehwa-ri, Gujwa-eup, Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea

Opening Hours: 8.00am – 9.00pm  

11. Mazeland  

Mazeland is especially unique, as it is uncommon to actually have a life-sized maze you can walk through. For those who are not as good with directions, fret not as the maze is not difficult to navigate through! This tourist attraction is no normal maze, as its well-manicured lawns and hedges have served as a filming location for top Korean shows, including Running Man and Legend of the Blue Sea. Relive the romance as you find your way through the maze.

Address: 2134-47, Bijarim-ro, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

Opening Hours:  November - January: 9.00am – 5.30pm  February - March/October: 9.00am - 6.00pm April - May: 9.00am – 6.30pm June - September: 9.00am – 7.00pm   

12. Jeju Swiss Village  

The Jeju Swiss Village is a cute collection of colourful cafés, shops and restaurants. A respite from famous tourist attractions, this quaint village feels like a sleepy town and is a top favourite for those who enjoy time away from the maddening crowd. 

Address: 1559-1 Wasan-ri, Jochon-eup, Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea

Opening Hours: Dependent on respective shophouses 

13. Jeongseong Pizza

While you’re there, you can also visit the Jeongseong Pizza, which is owned by a kind-hearted and friendly dog-lover. During winter last year, there were two stray dogs that went to the pizza place’s owner for food and warmth so much that he eventually built a shelter for them. He has since been featured on the SNS Animal Show for his kind act. 

On top of pizza and his friendly companions, feel free to ask the host for any recommendations on things to do on Jeju Island!  

Address: This one is a little tricky. Walk on the right fork once you enter the Swiss Village, and it’s the red house with a red dog shelter in front.

Getting Around: 14. Rent a car

Renting a car is highly recommended as this saves a lot of time when travelling around Jeju. This is even more important as buses here may also take 20-30 minutes to arrive, and not all attractions are accessible by public transport. 

It is best to book your car rental before flying over to Jeju as it may be hard to secure a car at last minute. Additionally, do take into account the size of your luggage when choosing your rental car size! 

Rental companies such as Hertz run promotions from time to time and are worth a check for price comparisons, especially during the holiday season. 

With this itinerary, you will truly be able to immerse in the vibrant and exotic beauty of Jeju’s natural landscape. A 72-hour experience with the crystal blue seas, amazing cafés and mountains will ensure that you leave Jeju feeling refreshed, and already planning your next visit. 

UOB Cardmembers can enjoy a variety of Travel Insider Escape deals! From flight offers on Trip.com , to savings on accommodation bookings with Agoda ,  Booking.com and UOB Travel. Click here for even more deals and start planning a holiday with UOB Cards!

This article was first written in October 2017 and updated in November 2022.

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Four-day Jeju road trip: Food, nature and adventure in Asia’s Hawaii

JEJU, South Korea – When world-weary city folk think of going on a vacation, Jeju is likely the kind of place they imagine.

Blue skies, palm trees and endless coastal roads that hug a crashing shoreline have earned the island its moniker, “The Hawaii of Asia”.

About 2½ times the size of Singapore and with a population of just 670,000, this South Korean island is made for self-drive holidays. The roads are clear, the drivers unhurried and, with the attractions spread out, you will cover more ground than if you stick to the laid-back bus system, which can mean wait times of up to an hour.

For nature lovers, there are meditative (if lung-busting) hiking trails. For foodies, an abundance of fresh seafood.

Children will enjoy themed parks such as Snoopy Garden as well as animal encounters – at Hueree Nature Life Park, visitors get to hand-feed Jeju’s iconic black pigs.

From the end of October, budget carrier Scoot will increase Singapore-Jeju flights to five times a week, after launching the thrice-weekly direct service in May. Budget flights to the country’s capital are cheap and plentiful, making it easy to tack on a Seoul leg to your trip.

Covering new attractions as well as classic experiences, here is a four-day Jeju road trip itinerary that takes in the island’s best sights.

Day one: Hit the road running

Scoot’s Singapore-Jeju flight lands in the morning, letting you pack in a full day of sightseeing once you touch down. Sleepy after the red-eye? A spot of go-karting will wake you right up.

Head to 9.81 Park Jeju ( 981park.com ), where you can zip down three winding circuits on a gravity-powered kart at up to 40kmh. The futuristic park opened in 2020 and gives visitors the chance to feel like Formula One racers, with their timings captured on an app and leaderboard, and their race highlights edited into a snazzy video.

In between rides, you can try the indoor sports lab, which offers arcade simulations of sports including skiing, curling and archery. It may not feel like the real thing, but there are bound to be lots of laughs. Plan for two to three hours here. Race and play packages start at 29,500 won (S$30).

Afterwards, do some actual driving down the coast towards Aewol Cafe Street. The stretch of cafes overlooks Jeju’s craggy coastline and many look like they have been designed for social media, with gorgeous photo spots backdropped by the ocean.

Cafe Knotted Jeju Aewol ( @cafeknotted on Instagram ), where I stop for coffee and doughnuts, has a whole garden decked out in fairy lights, palm trees and pastel decor that would not look out of place in a Taylor Swift music video.

Make like the locals, take along a mobile phone tripod and do not be embarrassed about posing in public.

Jeju was formed through volcanic activity and you can see signs of this in the island’s lava caves, such as in Ssangyonggul Cave in Hallim Park ( hallimpark.com ; admission: 12,000 won). The cave was created by the volcanic eruption of Hallasan Mountain 2.5 million years ago and, today, visitors can meander through the cool, dark lava tubes.

The park has flowers in bloom all year round, with pink muhly grass in season during my visit in early October. There is also a bonsai garden, tropical greenhouse and a bird garden where you can hand-feed budgies in an aviary.

Check in at Jeju Shinhwa World ( shinhwaworld.com ), an integrated resort that has multiple hotels, a mall, casino, water park and theme park.

The theme park is not quite Universal Studios – rides are more family-friendly than adrenaline-pumping, though I encounter a small roller coaster with 360-degree spinning seats.

Rooms at Jeju Shinhwa World Marriott Resort, where I stay, start at about $200. Make time for a quick soak in the outdoor pool, which is heated to a comfortable 28 to 30 deg C year-round and overlooks the water park.

Day two: Classic sights

Jeju is known for its green tea, which grows well in its mineral-rich, well-draining volcano soil.

Learn more about this at the Osulloc Tea Museum ( str.sg/wVJ7 ) and surrounding tea gardens. Stop for brunch at the cafe, which sells all manner of green tea desserts including waffles, cakes and ice cream, or load up on boxes of tea for the folks back home.

Next door, pick up some skincare at Innisfree Jeju House ( str.sg/wHCC ). It is run by the same company – Amorepacific Corporation – that owns beauty brands such as Sulwhasoo, Laneige and Mamonde.

Store-exclusive products such as scarves and notebooks make good souvenirs, and a self-guided soap-making workshop is good fun. It costs 20,000 won to make two bars of soap, with a video tutorial as a guide.

Black pork is Jeju’s most famous dish, and you can try it at the Al Dong Ne Jib barbecue joint. (Romanised Hangul names may not show up in Google Maps so use this link – str.sg/wHCq ) Pair the pork with a bowl of naengmyeon, or cold noodles (8,000 won), a refreshing contrast to the unctuous slabs of meat. A black pork set costs 20,000 won.

Jeju is divided into north and south by Mount Hallasan, a dormant volcano.

Drive south to Jeongbang Waterfall (2,000 won), the only falls in South Korea where water falls directly into the sea. You can clamber onto rocks to get up close. The island’s famed women divers, known as haenyo, who free-dive to harvest shellfish and seaweed, sometimes sell their catch from a makeshift shelter near the falls.

Nearby Cheonjiyeon Waterfall (2,000 won) requires less of a trek and is equally scenic. Each stop will take about 30 minutes.

Check in to Hotel Sumorum ( sumorum.com ; room rates start at about $120) before dark to catch a brilliant sunset from your room or the hotel pool, which overlooks the sea. And do not miss the heated pools, which the hotel calls a sauna. A soak in a warm jacuzzi is the perfect end to a day of walking.

Day three: Food trail

Put your pandemic baking skills to the test at Toto Atelier ( str.sg/wHCc ), a cooking school-cum-cafe where you can make savoury dishes and desserts.

Video tutorials bridge the language barrier, and staff are quick to swoop in should you run into any difficulty. I have baked my fair share of banana cakes and burnt cheesecake, but still found it useful to have someone tell me exactly when to stop whipping the meringue for my tangerine tart (27,000 won).

My tart turns out looking fancy, even if the thick crust tastes more like shortbread. A garnishing of apple mint, which I harvest fresh from their garden, is elegant in taste and appearance. But the best part is how I do not have to wash a single dirty dish after.

Hairtail fish is a local speciality and is sold fresh at Dongmun Market during the autumn months, and frozen for consumption throughout the rest of the year. You will not miss the shiny ribbon-like fish gleaming under display lights.

You can also buy kimchi by the barrel, platters of sashimi-style raw fish known as hoe, and boxes of tangerines that the island is known for.

In the evening, there is a cooked food section with black pork rolls, fried stuffed squid and, the market’s most popular stall offering, lobster torched on a grill. Budget for about 8,000 to 12,000 won a dish.

Still hungry? Try hairtail fish at Hyeob Jae Seom Ba Da ( str.sg/wHCN ). The delicate flesh is sectioned and fried to a crisp: crunching on the fins is the best part. A set costs 10,900 won.

Stay at the Grand Hyatt Jeju, the island’s tallest building. Each of the hotel’s 1,600 rooms is at least 65 sq m, double the size of most entry-level hotel rooms, with a spacious living area and work space. Rates start at about $300.

My city view room overlooks Jeju Airport’s runway and I relish the view of planes landing every few minutes – unfathomable just a year ago, when travel had all but ground to a halt.

Day four: Flower parks and nature trails

Jeju has parks aplenty and a recent addition is Snoopy Garden ( snoopygarden.com ; admission: 18,000 won), which opened in 2020. Depicting the creation and evolution of the comic strip by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, the exhibits are fun and informative.

As with many attractions, there are photo opportunities aplenty, most notably next to a giant Snoopy seated on a pier that South Korean boy band BTS member Jimin posed with for a photo. Join the queue of locals looking to recreate that shot.

Try Jeju specialities sea urchin seaweed soup (12,000 won) and sea urchin bibimbap (22,000 won) at Ojomiya ( str.sg/wHCR ). Instead of the usual vegetable assortment, the bibimbap comes with seaweed of various textures and hues. Tossed with a heap of sea urchin, it is briny-fresh and delicious.

A short drive away, take on the short but intense climb up Seongsan Ilchulbong, or Sunrise Peak (admission: 2,000 won). The effort-to-reward ratio is high – 20 to 30 minutes on a paved trail takes you to the top of the extinct volcano overlooking the sea on one side, and Jeju city on the other.

Cool off at Arte Museum ( artemuseum.com , admission: 17,000 won), housed in a former speaker factory and also opened in 2020.

Projections of iconic Jeju views – waterfalls, crashing waves and rapeseed flowers in bloom – adorn the space from floor to ceiling. The mirrored walls feel like a dreamscape or a maze I would not mind getting lost in. Judging by the number of people lolling on the floor, the immersive exhibition is the sort that will make you want to linger.

Finish your day in downtown Jeju. Lotte Mart and Emart Sinjeju, both located in the city centre, have a good selection of snacks, makgeolli, Jeju craft beers and soju. Make room in your hand-carry luggage to take a bit of Jeju home.

Travel tips

Travellers to South Korea no longer need to provide a negative pre-departure Covid-19 test certificate.

Before your trip, apply for a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization ( str.sg/wHCD ) and upload your vaccination details ( str.sg/wHCz ).

Masks are required indoors.

Several car rental companies, such as Lotte Car Rental ( str.sg/wHCK ), operate in Jeju. My sports utility vehicle, which seats four comfortably and has ample space for luggage, costs about $212 a day.

Google Maps does not work well in South Korea, so download South Korean app Naver ( str.sg/wHCr ) for directions and to search for food.

The writer and video journalist Aileen Teo were hosted by Scoot and Jeju Tourism Organisation. This story was brought to you by Scoot.

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at the chias

making a home | finding beauty in the ordinary | living for things that matter

7 Days Jeju Itinerary – Enjoying the healing beauty of Korea’s Hawaii

August 31, 2023 · In: Travel

We took a week long trip to Jeju island in November 2022. From lovely aesthetic cafes to tangerine picking, this article contains our Jeju itinerary, what to do in Jeju, and mistakes we made so you can avoid them.

Overview of our 7-day Jeju itinerary

Flying to jeju from singapore, our jeju car rental experience, driving in jeju island, sea urchin soup and bracken soup near jeju airport, checking in to our airbnb listing, having dinner, seogwipean bakery – gorgeous cafe with delicious bakes, ecoland – beautiful gardens and themed attractions with train, black pork at keokyumin black pork, we didn’t get to climb seongsan illchubong, visiting aqua planet jeju, trying jeju specialty ribbon fish or hairtail fish.

• Seogwipo Olle Market

Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff

Cheonamdan experience tangerine farm, 1100 altitude wetland, sukseongdo black pork – the one we enjoyed the most, osulloc tea museum, innisfree jeju house, windmills and grilled abalones, visiting camellia hill, an expansive botanical gardens, ssambap restaurant with mackerel stew, climbing saebyeol oreum, a diy black pork bbq, exploring aewol’s beautiful cafes, hyeopjae beach – clear waters and white sand, jamae guksu noodles – a soul-warming bowl of noodles soup, flying off from jeju airport.

As of the time we visited Jeju island in November 2022, there was only one carrier that flew directly from Singapore to Jeju, and that is Scoot. For us, the extra expense, time and hassle of flying to Seoul first then taking a domestic flight to Jeju did not make sense. This was especially since we wanted to spend the full duration of our week-long trip on Jeju island. 

The flight was at an unearthly hour, and with one toddler and one lap infant, we braced ourselves and endured the 6 hour journey fuelled by adrenaline and excitement for the week to come. 

Day 1: Picking up our rental car, finding food

In order to rent a car in South Korea, you need an International Driver’s Permit (IDP). For us in Singapore, we can get an IDP from the Automobile Association of Singapore (AA) . We chose to walk-in and get it done on the spot. You can have it done online and pay for it to be couriered to you, just note that this option will take 10 working days for delivery. The IDP is valid for one year from the date of issue. This came in handy for us on our trip to Kyushu , as an IDP is likewise required for car rental in Japan. 

While we remembered to do the necessary paperwork and bring our licenses (both the Singapore Driver’s Licence and IDP), we somehow forgot to bring a regular credit card on the trip. We had brought our usual multi-currency cards – YouTrip, Revolut, Amaze – and even an Amex card, but not a single “normal” Visa or MasterCard. The car rental agency refused to accept any of our multi-currency cards, citing that they were of the “debit” nature (this is not true of Amaze, but there was no arguing with the counter lady), and their system could not process Amex cards. They were also unwilling to accept cash as a deposit for the car, and simply told us that “we cannot rent you a car”. 

Sitting at the Jeju car rental shop after hardly any sleep on the flight, with an itinerary that relied on having a car to get around Jeju island, we were devastated and extremely stressed. I was watching the bags and the kids who were getting hangry, while praying and asking God to show us what to do next. Thankfully, there was another Singaporean family at the car rental shop at the same time as us, and we approached them to ask if they would let us use their credit card in exchange for transferring them the same amount via PayNow immediately. They graciously agreed, and we managed to get the keys to our car! This was the moment when all the anxiety melted, and we started to get excited about the week to come. 

[Side note] We booked our car rental directly from Lotte Rent-a-Car, and did not need to make any payment at the time of booking. However, this resulted in us almost being unable to rent the car, and the customer service support onsite was dismal. The Singaporean family who helped us had booked their rental via Klook , which allowed them to make payment via Klook and they had customer support available to them in English. For these reasons, we might choose to book via a platform like Klook in the future. You can book a Jeju car rental easily on Klook here . 

We rented a Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric vehicle, with two car seats for the kids. This was a really comfortable ride and pleasant driving experience for all of us. The car seats were very clean and plush, and they even had 360 swivel capabilities which meant we could easily put the kids into their seats without having to bend into awkward positions. 

For Singaporean drivers like us, things to note include:

• Use Naver Maps or Kakao Maps for navigation, if you need an alternative to the in-car GPS. Google Maps will not be able to show you navigation routes. 
• Phone numbers are used to find destinations, rather than addresses. Enter the phone number of the place you are going to in the GPS to find the location. 
• It’s right-hand drive in South Korea, opposite of Singapore. They drive on the right side of the road, like the US and most of Continental Europe. 

After the car rental adventure, we were all hungry ready for our first Korean meal. We stopped by Kim Hwi Jeon , a small homely restaurant located near the airport. Here, we had their specialties of bracken soup, sea urchin soup, and grilled mackerel. It was delicious and we all enjoyed the hearty soups. 

Most restaurants we dined at during our trip were child-friendly. They had high chairs, scissors for cutting food (used for adults but also very useful for preparing children’s portions), and Asian child friendly menu options like plain rice, steamed egg and soup. 

Tummies full, we found our way to our first accommodation, an Airbnb listing near Seongsan Illchubong. We were very tired from the long trip, so we decided to pop by a nearby grocery store to get some groceries as well as a simple dinner to have back at our accommodation. 

We got some supermarket kimbap, fresh fish and local snacks which we enjoyed before putting the kids to bed. After the kids were asleep, Ben and I enjoyed peanut makgeolli, a Jeju specialty. Be sure to get the one with the cartoon peanut man on the bottle! 

Day 2: Seogwipean Bakery, Ecoland, and black pork

After a good night’s rest, we started the day early and headed off to Seogwipean Bakery upon recommendation of a friend. Jeju island is filled with amazing cafes of all kinds of unique design! Seogwipean Bakery faces the coast and you can enjoy sea views while having your coffee and baked goods. They bake throughout the day, and there is a menu with a list of bakes and what time they are ready. We were spoilt for choice! Everything we had was so yummy. We also had an iced Americano – the quintessential Korean young adult drink. 

Apart from the gorgeous aesthetic, Seogwipean Bakery was also very child-friendly, with Stokke child seats available, and a spacious baby changing room. It was probably our favourite cafe of the entire trip. 

We headed onward to Ecoland , a theme park / botanical gardens hybrid complete with its own train. Our son loves trains, and that was the primary draw of this place for us. We were surprised by how much we ended up enjoying ourselves here.

There are different activities and flowers to view in the different seasons, but it’s mostly a place to enjoy nature and take photos at some of the quirky photo spots they’ve set up. In terms of food, there were small kiosks but nothing substantial, so if you’re hoping to have lunch here, do pack a picnic. 

You can purchase tickets onsite at the ticketing booth, or pre-order online. 

For dinner, we headed to KeokyuMin Black Pork to have our first taste of Jeju black pork! If you’re unfamiliar with Korean BBQ, do note that there is usually a minimum order requirement, such as that you need to order a minimum two portions of one cut of meat before you can order other cuts. We decided to go with a set which included beef, pork and some seafood. The servers would usually also do the grilling for you, and cut the meat up into smaller pieces (with scissors) before it’s ready to eat. 

This restaurant was packed with local tourists, and we didn’t see any other foreigners here. We enjoyed the food, but it was a little difficult to communicate at times since no one spoke English. 

Day 3: Rainy Seongsan Illchubong, Aqua Planet Jeju, Jeju-specialty fish, Seogwipo Olle Market

We were looking forward to climbing Seongsan Illchubong, but woke up to a rainy morning on our last day on the eastern side of Jeju island. We sat in the car at the carpark for a bit, but the rain didn’t look like it would let up, and we didn’t want to climb with two young children in the rain. 

We did a search on the map to find alternative things to do on a rainy day in Jeju, and found that Aqua Planet Jeju was only a 10 minute drive away. So, we bought tickets online ( you can do so here ) and headed over. 

The experience at Aqua Planet Jeju was fantastic. We enjoyed it more than our visits to Singapore’s SEA Aquarium at Sentosa! Aqua Planet Jeju had a large variety of aquatic creatures to enjoy, as well as penguins and otters. There were also plenty of interactive exhibits and even a playground for children. 

The highlight for us was watching the haenyeo demonstration in the large tank. We were able to watch as the haenyeo descended into the water without any breathing equipment, and removed some shellfish from a rock before ascending for air. Even if we had been able to catch the haenyeo at Seongsan Illchubong, we wouldn’t have had such an interesting perspective of being able to watch the descent as we’d have been above the water. Our son was also intrigued as we’d been reading The Ocean Calls: A Haenyo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho in preparation for this trip. 

A South Korean friend recommended a local restaurant, Manok Jeju , for us to try Jeju’s specialty fish, a fish known by many names – ribbon fish, hairtail, cutlassfish, and beltfish. We had the traditional set, which included the fish prepared in various styles: raw, grilled, and in stew. This was accompanied by side dishes and soy marinated crab. The fish is distinctively long and has very soft flesh. They debone it at the table with a spoon and chopsticks! 

This was a great experience of local culture, and we’re glad we had the opportunity to try it. 

Seogwipo Olle Market 

In the afternoon, we checked in to our next accommodation near Seogwipo. It was a gorgeous traditional home done up in a contemporary minimalist style, and we enjoyed the space and rested for a while before heading out to Seogwipo Olle Market. 

The market was crowded and full of life, with many snacks and souvenirs on offer. Crowds aren’t really our thing, so we quickly bought a variety of foods including tteokbokki and hallabong juice and found a quieter corner to enjoy them at. Without kids in tow, this would be a great place to spend hours at, eating your way through all the specialties. 

Day 4: Volcanic stone pillars, an animal and tangerine farm, enjoying Hallasan and more black pork!

[ Note: As at time of publication (Aug 2023), it appears that the area is temporarily closed and undergoing upgrading. Please check before visiting. ] We started our day by enjoying the natural beauty of the volcanic stone columns formed at the Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff. There was an entirely flat portion of boardwalk that was wheelchair friendly, and a viewing area nearer to the cliffs that required climbing a flight of stairs. It was very manageable for all of us, including our then 3 year old. 

This was a nice quiet stop (perhaps because we visited in the morning) and we took our time to soak in the views and marvel at the beauty of the unique formations. 

A friend recommended this tangerine farm experience to us. It was hard to find more information about it in English, although it is very well reviewed on Korean sites such as Naver. This is the Google maps link, and this is the Naver map link. The farm is catered mostly to local tourists, although there are a few staff who speak English and would be able to help you figure out what to do. They also have an activity sheet for kids, available in English. 

There are three main parts to the farm, and you pay for admission based on how many of these activities you participate in. We bought the ticket for all three. The first is a monorail ride that takes you through the farm, and makes a few stops for the kids to feed animals. The driver was speaking in Korean throughout, which we did not understand. I’m guessing it was some commentary about the farm. 

After the monorail ride, we went to the animal section of the farm, where they housed various animals that kids can pet and feed. They had a wide variety of insects and animals, and with the lack of English language explanations, we found the whole setup rather bizarre and were not sure what to feel about it. The local tourists were very happy to interact with and feed the animals. We followed suit, but I did have some reservations about the standard of care the animals were receiving, given that there were so many and there didn’t seem to be many people around to care for them. 

We finally headed to the tangerine section, which was the reason we visited the farm. Included with the admission ticket is a bucket that can carry about 1kg of tangerines per person. You’re allowed to pick and eat as much as you want, and bring home as many as can fit in the bucket. We enjoyed sampling the different varieties of tangerines and choosing our favourites to bring back with us! 

Tangerines are synonymous with Jeju, and tangerine picking is the thing to do if you’re there during the harvest season! 

This easy boardwalk trail at 1100 Highland on Hallasan was such a hidden gem! 1100m up, the weather here is very different from the rest of Jeju and in the winter months, you can even see snow here. It is highly recommended for visitors who wish to visit Hallasan but don’t wish to trek, such as those with young children or elderly. The entire boardwalk is flat, so it would be wheelchair or stroller accessible. It is rather narrow though, and it was very short so even our 3 year old could easily manage the walk on his own. 

For dinner, we headed to a popular black pork restaurant Sukseongdo. Here, they serve black pork that has been wet aged. Although most of the other diners were locals, we found that the servers here were better able to communicate with us and could give us recommendations on how to eat the pork too. We enjoyed the experience here very much and wanted to come back, but didn’t have the time to. Expect queues at all hours of the day, they are super popular! 

Day 5: Osulloc was closed, Innisfree, and grilled abalones

We spent the earlier part of the morning enjoying our accommodation and the gardens around it, then headed out to Osulloc Tea Museum, arguably the most popular tourist spot in Jeju. As we arrived we noticed immediately how many cars and tour buses there were, a stark contrast to all the other places we had visited so far. Following the traffic marshal’s directions, we found a parking spot and walked through the tea fields before heading over to the museum to find that… it was closed for renovations. What a disappointment, although we could have done better by checking beforehand. 

Although the museum was closed, there was a small cafe area where visitors could enjoy some of the treats such as matcha drinks and desserts. There was also a small gift shop. But it was overcrowded with tour groups and other visitors. Ben, who had visited the museum before, told us that the museum had exhibits on the tea harvesting and making process, and a large dining area to enjoy the tea products. We hope to be able to visit again once renovations are complete! 

Behind the Osulloc Tea Museum is the Innisfree Jeju House. Don’t be deterred by the Osulloc crowds and turn away before you come here! Apart from selling Innisfree products, Innisfree Jeju House also has some hands-on activities such as soap making, and a cafe where you can buy food or a picnic set to enjoy out on the tea fields. It is a very beautiful space to enjoy, even if you aren’t into cosmetics. 

We explored the coast and enjoyed grilled abalones with a view of the water and windmills at this abalone restaurant on the coast. The translation shows its name as “Pungcha & Abalone”, and I think it corresponds to this Google Map listing . This restaurant has spectacular views and even has a rooftop viewing deck that guests can enjoy before or after their meal. 

We had the traditional grilled abalones and grilled abalone rice. Mackerel is commonly served as a side dish with such meals. The rice is served in a hot bowl, and after eating the rice you would add hot water and cover it, which would loosen the charred bits stuck to the side of the bowl. After a few minutes, you can scrape down all the charred crunchy bits and enjoy the last bit of rice as a rice porridge. 

We checked in to our next accommodation and enjoyed a quiet evening together. The Airbnb listings in Jeju are some of the most beautiful spaces we’ve ever stayed in. 

Day 6: Camellia Hill, mackerel stew, climbing an oreum and a DIY BBQ 

Camellia Hill is a beautiful and wheelchair / stroller accessible botanical gardens with many different areas showcasing different types of flowers and native plants. We visited in winter, which is camellia season, and enjoyed the vibrantly coloured flowers amidst the winter cold. The place is vast and it’s easy to spend a few hours here. 

The gardens are easy to explore, and there is a route you can follow to walk through the entire space. Near the end, there was a large field of beautiful muhly grass. It was dreamy and we ended up spending more time here than we expected to. It is a wonderful feeling to get lost in nature and not realise how much time is flying by. 

On Naver Map, we found a nearby restaurant that served mackerel stew, another local specialty we had wanted to try. This place had a large car park and seemed popular amongst local tour groups. There were also beautiful gardens onsite that guests could explore. The food was good, but not amazing, so I wouldn’t go out of my way to get here if I wasn’t in the area. 

By this part of the trip, we’d realised that the best adventures came from finding interesting places on Naver map and exploring them, rather than following what we could find on Google. So many of the best gems we had found were not commonly mentioned on Jeju itineraries or even found on Google Maps!

While the kids were napping at our accommodation, we found Saebyeol Oreum on Naver Map, and saw that it was recommended as a place to watch the sunset. Making a completely spontaneous decision, we drove down after the kids’ nap and climbed to the top in 15 minutes, each carrying one child. The path is completely paved and there is a railing, and it is an easy walk that anyone who can climb stairs should be able to do in 15 minutes. Doing it with an additional load though, was quite the workout. 

We made it to the top just in time to watch the sunset. And it was breathtaking. 

Oreums are volcanic cones, and Jeju has around 360 of them throughout the island. Many are open to visitors to climb and explore, so choose your own adventure! 

As much as we enjoy dining with our children, there is something special about being able to take our time to enjoy and savour food and each other’s company. On this night, we decided to cook a simple pasta for the kids’ dinner and after they were in bed, we had our own black pork BBQ using the facilities available at our Airbnb listing . It was fun to savour the slow pace of cooking, the cold air of the night and the starlit sky. 

Day 7: Cafe hopping in Aewol, Hyeopjae beach

Aewol is THE place to go if you enjoy cafes. Do note, most of them require each adult to purchase one drink in order to enter. The cafes here are unlike any that we have back home in Singapore – each has its own unique style and there is an abundance of space throughout. 

The first cafe we visited was Cafe Bomnal, located right on the coast. We were mesmerised by the sea view here, and didn’t realise till much later that the cafe is actually huge and has many different areas, both indoor and outdoor, to explore. From there, we took a walk around and enjoyed the coast before heading to Knotted Cafe for some donuts. This area had a playful vibe about it, with vintage rides that our son enjoyed exploring. There are many more cafes in the area, and they are mostly connected by the coastal walking trail. You can definitely spend a full day here exploring and getting a caffeine high. 

Hyeopjae beach is a beautiful beach with clear waters and white sands. We were there in winter, but could see that there was infrastructure set up for swimmers during summer, with bathrooms and showers available. There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants that spill onto the beach, so you could sip a cocktail or enjoy your dinner while watching the sunset. 

Day 8: Saying bye to Jeju island, enjoying one final meal

Once again, we spent the morning enjoying the beautiful space and gardens at our final accommodation. Each of the places we stayed at had two bedrooms, which made it easy for us to replicate the arrangements back home – with one room for the kids to share, and one for Ben and myself. We brought our trusty aeromoov travel cot along, which was used for our daughter, while our son slept in the bed provided by each accommodation. In Korea, they mostly sleep close to the ground so it we didn’t have many worries about him falling from the bed, even though he was still sleeping in a cot back home at that time. On the first night of the trip, he indeed rolled off the bed but we helped him back on and he promptly fell back asleep. Thereafter, it seems his body adjusted to knowing the edges of the bed and he didn’t have any further incidents. 

This is an incredibly popular spot near the airport, and the only place we visited on our trip that had an English menu! We found the food to be well worth the hype, especially the stewed pork, soup noodles and steamed dumplings. They had free “kids meals” too; each of the kids were served a small bowl of noodles in soup. At around 10am when we visited, the restaurant was packed but there was little to no waiting time for a seat, and the food came very quickly after we ordered. 

The airport on Jeju island is a small one, and at the time of our trip, the international terminal was only servicing two flights, making it incredibly empty. There was only one shop selling food, and a tiny duty free store.

The terminal, however, felt new and clean, and had plenty of space for the little ones to run around. There was also a large parents room with multiple changing tables and nursing rooms. The terminal faced the runway and we watched planes take off and land while we waited for our turn to board. 

All in all, it was a fantastic trip and one that taught us many things about travel as a family. We learnt that we enjoyed spending time in nature together. We learnt that the slow pace of the trip was perfect for our family. We’ve embraced this and did a farm stay in Japan ! And we learnt that we loved road trips! Since then, we’ve done a couple more road trips including one week in Kyushu . We also share our travel tips for travelling with kids in this article . 

Hope you enjoyed following along and that this Jeju travel blog was helpful in your own planning of a trip to Jeju island! 

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Jeju Road Trip Itinerary Day 2: Jeju West Coastline

Last updated on April 14th, 2024

Jeju west coastline itinerary is where the beauty of the island starts with its seaside line and white sand beaches.

We spend our second day on the western coast of Jeju to taste the famous Jeju green tea and its breathtaking seaside line. Many of the attraction on the west coastline is worth spending the whole day relaxing. We spend the whole day and it seems like not enough.

Table of Contents

Places To Visit At West Coast Jeju

The western coast of Jeju is the start of the Jeju coastline with beautiful sandy white beaches and an emerald-colored sea view. There are many magnificent attractions on Jeju’s west coastline itinerary and listed below are a few major attractions I wish to visit.

The three famous beaches on the west coast like Aewol Gwakji Gwamul Beach (애월 곽지과물해변), Hyeopjae Beach (협재해수욕장) and Geumneung Euddeum Beach (금능으뜸해변) is boasted by crystal clear water, the emerald color of the beach especially during sunset time.

Experience the Korean tea culture at O’sulloc Tea Museum (오설록 뮤지엄) or take a break with green tea dessert at the cafe. Have a quick shopping at Innisfree Jeju House (이니스프리 제주하우스) which utilizes the Jeju natural ingredient for their cosmetic product.

Not to forgot the Mt Sanbangsan (산방산) and Yongmeori coast (용머리해안). The Sanbangsan Temple and also the Bomunsa Temple, which holds the relics of Buddha, are also located on the mountain. While the Yongmeori Coast is a rocky coastline where Mt Sanbangsan stretches into the ocean and features unique cliff formations which have turned the coast into a stunning walk.

Jeju West Coast Itinerary

There are so many things to do in West Coast Jeju and can easily spend one or two days. As we only have a limited one day, we decided to choose some of the attractions that we like the most.

Below is my Jeju West Coast Itinerary:

• Brunch at Jamae Guksu aka Sister Noodles
• O’sulloc Tea Museum and enjoy the green tea dessert

Innisfree Jeju House

Yongmeori coast, o’sulloc tea museum.

We settle our brunch at Jamae Guksu aka Sister Noodles in the city before starting our Jeju road trip itinerary. The meal is very filling and tastes good. We continue the driving journey to O’sulloc Tea Museum for an approximate 1-hour drive.

Ample parking spaces are available located in front and nearby the museum.

Jeju Island is one of South Korea’s major tea-growing regions due to its volcanic soil and sub-tropical climate. All make this island an ideal place for tea growing.

We took some photos at the green tea garden and plantation together with the odor of green tea before proceeding to the O’sulloc Tea museum.

The ‘O’ in O’Sulloc means to appreciate and enjoy, while ‘Sulloc’ refers to a type of green tea. O’sulloc Tea museum takes the shape of a teacup and is separated into different exhibition halls, teacup galleries, and tea tasting galleries.

It was crowded at O’sulloc Tea Museum due to the weekend. Many Korean couple and family bring their kids to understand the Korean tea culture. Tourists and public buses also keep sending visitors from different locations here.

We have a quick visit to the museum and continue queueing for the main purpose of the visit, The Green Tea Dessert. It took about 15 minutes of waiting time due to the long line.

The dessert set comes with Hallabong O Fredo, green tea ice cream, and a piece of green tea roll cake at ₩17,600. I do feel the Japanese green tea product is better and out of surprise, their Hallabong O Frendo is very refreshing. Worth my queue time.

• Address : 15 Sinhwayeoksa-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo, Jeju-do, South Korea
• Opening Hours : Daily 9 a.m to 6 p.m
• Admission : Free!
• Korea GPS Tel No : 794-5351

Follow the path to Innisfree Jeju House 이니스프리 제주하우스 which is located right beside the O’sulloc Tea museum. This is the flagship store of Korean cosmetic products that specialized in utilizing Jeju natural ingredients.

The crowd is much lesser at Innisfree Jeju House and we can enjoy the free time to explore the product. There is also a cafe here that served organic and healthy sandwiches, drinks, and desserts.

Innisfree Jeju House provides a unique making soap workshop made of natural ingredients from Jeju-do which cost ₩15,000. We didn’t try on it but it is fun and interesting by talking with one of the guests.

• Address : 23 Sinhwayeoksa-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo, Jeju-do, South Korea

We spend about 2 hours at O’sulloc Tea Museum and Innisfree Jeju House with a leisure walk and relaxing dessert break before heading to our next destination, Yongmeori Coast . It is the highlight of the second day of the Jeju road trip itinerary.

Yongmeori coast is located next to Mt Sanbangsan and is ideal to be visited at the same time. Travelers can pay a visit to the Buddha temples at the mountain or hike up to the Sanbanggul (Sanbang cave) at Mt Sanbangsan.

We save our energy for the coming Mt Hallasan hike and only visit the Yongmeori coast which is located opposite Mt. Sanbangsan.

There is two entrance to the Yongmeori coast, either following a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. We follow the clockwise entrance and regret seeing the downhill stone step path. No handrails, big steep rocks, and people keep coming up from down.

Take the courage to walk down as the awesome view is waiting at the front.

Unique Cliff Formations Rocky Coastline

Yongmeori Coast is a rocky coastline where Mt Sanbangsan stretches into the ocean and features unique cliff formations after thousand years.

Its rough and dramatic coastline shaped from lava eruptions has turned the coast into a stunning walk.

The spectacular view of the rocky coastline is so magnificent with the emerald ocean and blue sky! Its unique cliff formation is like the mini version of America’s Grand Canyon but Yongmeori can be reached and touched by your hand.

You will admire the graceful curves of nature with the amazing landscape at Yongmeori Coast. Sometimes rocks were slippery due to the seawater will splash to the onshore.

One of my favorite photos at the side of a rock formation and emerald ocean! I had the BEST time at Yongmeori Coast and keep on taking photos while walking along the coast.

Meet the barnacles at Yongmeori Coast, seashells that build their houses on rock and are only exposed to sunlight during low tide.

Meet The Woman Haenyeos

Women Haenyeos at Jeju are extraordinary with their spirit and determination.

They can go diving up to 30 meters under the sea to gather shellfish, such as seaweed, abalone, sea urchins, and sea cucumber without an oxygen tank just by holding their breath. Nowadays, sea diver ladies which are only found in Japan and Jeju have dwindled in numbers due to the work being dangerous and hard.

There are a few stalls on the Yeongmeori coast run by Haenyeos, women sea-divers of Jeju who sells fresh raw seafood like sea cucumber, sea snail, and sea squirt.

I use my body language to ask for the price and one of the ahjumma reply me in mandarin. Such a weird feeling. We choose the red sea squirt which we have never tried before in raw. It cost us ₩10,000 for it.

See our raw seafood platter at Yongmeori Coast together with spice dipping sauce and spring onion on the side.

I can’t describe the feeling of enjoying the fresh sea squirt by sitting on the plastic short stool. You need to chew longer for the sea squirt with skin. The unique experience is priceless when enjoying it with the blue sky, formation rock, and emerald ocean with breezing sea wind.

I’d say the Yongmeori coast is one of the places you HAVE to visit when you come to Jeju!

We exit the Yongmeori coast on the right side by walking throughout the coastline from one to another end. The visit takes almost two hours including the relaxing and eating time.

There is the Hamel Castaway Memorial, in remembrance of Hamel who drifted to this place in 1653 near the entrance. One of the family-run ice cream shops catch our attention when we pass by toward the car park. We can’t control it and get another ice cream for the snack.

• Address : 218-10 Sanbang-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo, Jeju-do, South Korea
• Note: Subject to change as it will be close if high ties or bad weather
• Closed at 5 p.m during our visit in May
• Admission : ₩ 2,000
• Korea GPS Tel No : 794-2940 (Mt Sanbangsan)

Jeju Aurum Pension At Seogwipo

We end our second day of Jeju west coastline itinerary and continue to drive to the accommodation for that night. Jeju Aurum is a pension located in southern Jeju 10 minutes away from Seogwipo city.

The pension is run by Mr. Kim together with his lovely wife. The location of Jeju Aurum is excellently located in front of a beautiful lava rock beach and in the middle of Jeju Olle trail 6, the most beautiful walking trail. Beautiful sunrise and sunset can be enjoyed at both ends of the beach.

Find out how we enjoy our stay at Jeju Aurum .

• Address : 603 Bomok-dong, Seogwipo, Jeju-do, South Korea
• Korea GPS Tel No : 733-6888
• Check the room availability here .

The Best Jeju West Coastline Itinerary

The total driving journey is approximately 83km from Hotel Whistle by visiting multiple famous attractions on Jeju west coastline. The second-day road trip journey ended at the southern coastline at Jeju Aurum pension .

Looking at the places visited in Jeju’s west coastline itinerary, some are hard can be reached by public transport. I enjoyed my second day of sightseeing road trip journey. I highly recommended renting a car to explore the beauty of Jeju. We choose to rent a car from AJ (Avis in Jeju) after comparison on RentalCars from Booking.com . The car renting process is easy and cheaper if you have members to share in the expenses.

Alternative check out the local day tour which helps arrange for your pleasant vacation at Jeju Island. The Western Island Exploration run every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and will cover most of the west attraction; Hallim Park, Hyupjae Beach, O’sulloc Green Tea Field, and more with an experienced local tour guide.

6 Days in Jeju Island With Self-driving

Read more on  6 days 5 nights Jeju itinerary with the best things to do and great food to eat for your wonderful road trip.

• Jeju City Exploration  –  Yongduam Rock | Dongmun Market | Black Pork Street
• West Coastline  –  O’sulloc Tea Museum | Innisfree Jeju House | Yongmeori coast
• South Coastline – Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff | Jeongbang Waterfall | Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market | Seopjikoji
• East Coastline  –  Sunrise Peak Seongsan Ilchulbong  |  Udo Island
• Hallasan Mountain  –  Hike up To The Summit Mount Hallasan
• Free and easy . All about the beaches and the sea

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The Ultimate 3 Day Jeju Itinerary (2024)

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Having spent an amazing month travelling through South Korea we wanted to share our recommended Jeju itinerary. Created by a massive volcanic eruption 2 million years ago, the island is lush with remnants of volcanic activity and is the perfect mix of natural beauty and unique things to do.  For those of you planning your own Jeju itinerary, we wanted to share our Jeju travel guide and Jeju itinerary to help with your trip planning!

Table of Contents

The Ultimate Jeju Itinerary

Jeju was one of our favorite places in South Korea. From the island vibe to exploring the waterfalls, Jeju is a must-see destination in South Korea. Having spent several days on Jeju Island we’ve put together all our tips and advice to make the most of your time in this amazing place.

Jeju Itinerary Essentials

Depending on how long you have, we recommend allowing 3 or 4 nights in Jeju. We traveled all around South Korea and this Jeju itinerary, together with our Seoul itinerary , is a great starting point for planning a South Korea trip.

Getting Around Jeju

Renting a car in Jeju is the best way to explore the island plus driving is relatively easy.  Having your own car gives you the flexibility to travel at your own pace and see places that are simply not possible on group tours or public transport. We find that Rentalcars.com has the best prices for Jeju Island. We rented a car during our time on Jeju and found it the best way to explore the island

Make sure to book your rental car well in advance for the best price and to ensure availability. Jeju is an island with a lot of visitors: Seoul Gimpo to Jeju is the busiest air route in the world and 26 million passengers use the tiny Jeju International Airport every year! As such, demand for rental cars on the island is high, especially during busy periods and holidays. We recommend using RentalCars.com to reserve your car as they have the best selection and prices that we’ve found–  click here to book now!

Book your car now with RentalCars

Jeju itinerary tip: Jeju can be explored by public transport but it is often time consuming. If you prefer to avoid renting a car then consider taking a tour of the island, these Eastern Jeju  and Western Jeju tours are a great way explore most of the island.

Where to Stay in Jeju

We recommend staying in Jeju City if you have a late arrival or early departure. The South of the island is the ideal location to explore the Jeju sights.

• Howard Johnston Hotel Jeju:  We spent a night at the Howard Johnson and found it perfect for a short stay before or after a flight at Jeju International. The hotel is centrally located, close to the airport and there are lots of restaurants and facilities within a short walking distance. Parking is also available for free as part of the room rate – check prices now!
• Marriott Jeju Shinhwa World Hotels & Resorts:  this resort was one of our favourite hotels in South Korea and was a good base for exploring Jeju if you rent a car. The resort itself is amazing, with stunning rooms, a beautiful pool and an incredible breakfast. There’s even a theme park attached to the hotel! – check prices now!
• Kensington Jeju Hotel: located close to Jungmun Beach on the south of the island it’s easy to see why the Kensington Jeju Hotel is one of Jeju’s highest rated hotels. The breakfast and dinner buffets are insane and the views from the rooftop infinity pools are some of the best in Jeju –  check prices now!

Book your Jeju hotel now

Best Time to Visit Jeju

When visiting Jeju it is best to plan your visit to coincide with the more moderate weather months!

The warm and sunny days that often occur from March to May and October to November make these months a great time to visit South. During the summer, temperatures are consistently high and South Korea enters typhoon season while in winter its icy cold.

Sim Card and Internet

As with most countries, having mobile data during a trip is invaluable for navigation and research. There are lots of options on arrival at Seoul and Jeju airports – we reserved 4g Wifi hotspot in advance on Klook.com – check prices now!

Book your 4G wifi hotspot now

Daily Jeju Itinerary

We’ve outlined our day to day Jeju itinerary as a starting point for planning your own Jeju experience.

Day 1: Seongsan Illchulbong, Seopikoji Coast Walk, Aqua Planet and Manjanggul Cave

Seongsan ilchulbong peak and jeju haenyeo.

Start the day with a short hike up Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak. Topped by 99 jagged rocks which resemble a crown, it is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Jeju.

Seongsan Illchulbong is known as Sunrise Peak due to its incredible sunrise views so, if you are early risers, you can consider watching the sunset from its crown.

On the way down, make a stop at the viewing platform to try and catch a glimpse of the Jeju haenyeo, Jeju’s traditional women divers

Jeju Itinerary tip: the hike from the car park the summit takes about 30 minutes and is a mix of paved paths and wooden stairs. It’s a relatively easy hike for those of average fitness. On colder days, make sure to wrap up well as it can get chilly on the exposed trail.

Seopikoji Coast Walk

Famous for the yellow canola and its appearance in Korean television dramas, the Seopikoji Coast Walk offers beautiful coastal views

Jeju itinerary tip: The canola blooms during March and April but it is a stunning scenic walk at any time of the year

Aqua Planet

Aqua Planet is the largest aquarium in all of Asia and 50,000 animals and 500 plants live there. The stingrays, sharks, seals, penguins and otters were our highlights among the thousands of sea creatures –  check prices now!

Buy your Aqua Planet tickets now

Manjanggul Cave

The final stop is the Manjanggul Lava tubes another of the three sites which make up the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes UNESCO World Heritage Site. Considered one of the finest lava tunnels in the world, the lava tube at Manjanggul Cave stretches for 13.4 kilometres with one kilometre of the Manjanggul Cave is accessible to visitors.

The highlights are the ‘Stone Turtle’, which resembles the outline of Jeju Island, and an 8-metre tall lava column which is the largest in the world.

Jeju Itinerary tip: bring a rain jacket into the caves as it can get chilly and wet. The ground is uneven at times and can be slippery so make sure to wear proper footwear.

Day 2: Jusangjelloi Cliffs, Oedolgae Rock, Teddy Bear Museum and Waterfalls

Today’s itinerary is focused on the South of the island where some of Jeju’s most incredible sights are located within a short drive of each other. Our day 2 Jeju itinerary is jam packed so pick and choose as you please!

Jusangjelloi Cliffs

The spectacular Jusangjelloi Cliffs are comprised of hundreds of hexagonal basalt Oedolgae Rock stone. The cliffs were formed by a Mount Hallasan eruption and are one of the most beautiful sights in Jeju.

Jungmun Beach

If the weather is nice, the golden sands of Jungmun Beach are a lovely detour. With its crashing waves, Jungmun is a popular surf beach.

Teddy Bear Museum

The Teddy Museum is, unsurprisingly, a museum dedicated entirely to teddy bears! Hundreds of teddies from all over the world are displayed throughout the museum.

Our highlights were a teddy bear depiction of a scene from Gulliver’s Travels, the smallest teddy in the world, a teddy bear version of the Mona Lisa and the Vitruvian Teddy, a nod to Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man painting–  check prices here!

Click here to purchase tickets to the Teddy Bear Museum

Cheonjeyeon Falls

Known as the Pond of God, legend has it that if you stand under the three-tiered Cheonjeyeon Falls on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month then diseases will be cured. The Seonimgyo Bridge, with its beautiful carving of seven nymphs, crosses over the Cheonjeyeon Falls.

Oedolgae Rock

The towering Oedolgae Rock is a quirky rock formation visible from the Olle trail, a series of trails which stretch across Jeju.

Jeongbang Waterfall

Our favourite of the Jeju waterfalls, Jeongbang is the only waterfall in Asia to fall straight into the ocean. The 23-meter high waterfall is surrounded by giant boulders which are fun to clamber over!

Cheonjiyeon Falls

Where the sky connects with the land, Cheonjiyeon Falls is accessed at the end of a scenic walk through lush surrounds.

Jeju itinerary tip: Make sure to sample some of the squid biscuits which are sold at the entrance of the Cheonjiyeon Falls.

Seogwipo Submarine

For a unique experience, take a ride on the Seogwipo Submarine as it descends 40 feet below the sea. There’s a small shipwreck on the route and, depending on the water conditions, its often possible to see scores of colourful wish – check prices here!

Jeju itinerary tip: if you are planning a family trip, the Seogwipo submarine is one of the best things to do in Jeju with kids!

Click here to book Seogwipo submarine tickets

Day 3: Love Land, Suwolbong Peak, Cactus Village and Beaches

Day 3 is also action packed so be sure to squeeze in your favourites!

The sex-themed outdoor sculpture park is by far the quirkiest of the things to do in Jeju . Sensual and erotic sculptures in various sex positions are dotted throughout Love Land and it’s a fun place to visit!

Jeju itinerary tip:  visitors must be 18 or over to enter Love Land

Mysterious Road

Located close to Love Land, Dokkaebi Road in Jeju is known as the Mysterious Road due to the baffling ability of objects to climb the hill instead of moving down it!

Jeju itinerary tip:  the gravity defying happenings at Mysterious Road are actually an optical illusion created by the road and its surroundings!

Iho Tewoo Beach

Iho Tewoo Beach is a popular Jeju hangout and it is ramed by a red and white horse shaped lighthouse at either end.

Hypeopjae Beach

The stunning white sands and turquoise waters of Hypeopjae Beach make it one of the most beautiful in Jeju.

Jeju itinerary tip: if Hypeopjae is teeming with people, the Geumneung Eutteumwon Beach is a great alternative. Located next to Hypeopjae, it is home to some awesome stone statues and is equally as beautiful as its neighbor.

Wollyeongri Cactus Village

A boardwalk leads visitors through a huge field of cactii which is spectacular against the ocean backdrop. The cactii are a Jeju specialty and a variety of products including face masks, juice and chocolate are stocked in the village.

Suwolbong Peak

Located at the most western point in Jeju, Suwolbong Peak is now an inactive volcano. Suwolbong Peak is the perfect spot to wrap up the day and watch the sunset over the beautiful landscape.

Day 4: Optional Days

Depending on your interests, you might like to add a full day Hallasan hike or a fun theme park outing to the Jeju itinerary.

Jeju itinerary tip: if you want to squeeze both a theme park and a hike then opt for one of the shorter Hallasan trails.

Theme Park: Jeju Shinhwa World

Jeju Shinhwa World is an entertainment complex consisting of a theme park and a water park. Shinhwa Water Park is the latest addition and has a variety of waves, slides and pools including a 230-meter high slide – check prices now!

Jeju itinerary tip: when we visited it seemed that development had stalled at Shinhwa World. The theme park was very quiet and there are were no waits for rides.

Book your Shinhwa tickets now

Hiking: Mount Hallasan 

If you love hiking then make sure to set aside a day for Mount Hallasan and its summit views of the incredible crater lake. Hallasan is South Korea’s tallest mountain and its distinct peak can be seen from all over Jeju.

The Hallahan hiking trails range from a 30 minute jaunt to an epic 5 hour adventure. There are two summit trails known as the Gwaneumsa and Seongpanak trails:

• Gwaneumsa Trail: 8.7 km summit trail which takes approximately 5 hours one way.
• Seongpanak Trail: 9.6 km summit trail which takes approximately 4.5 hours one way.

Jeju itinerary tip: Although longer, the Seongpanak trail is slightly easier than Gwaneumsa. Some parts of the trail are on a gentle slope and allow some breathing space between the stair climbs. It also has a rest stop with refreshments just before the final push for the Hallasan summit. It’s for these reasons that many visitors hike up the Seongpanak trail and descend via the Gwaneumsa trail.

The Eorimok and Yeongsil are Hallasan’s other popular trails. Although these trails don’t have views of the Baengnokdam Crater Lake, they are both great options to experience Hallasan and its stunning landscape.

• Eorimok Trail: 6.8 km trial which takes approximately three hours one way.
• Yeongsil Trail: 5.8 km trail which takes approximately three hours one way.

Jeju itinerary tip:  the weather changes fast on Hallashan so make sure to bring warm clothes and rain jackets.

1 thought on “The Ultimate 3 Day Jeju Itinerary (2024)”

Yours was the only blog where i found my perfect two day plan for Jeju! Thks a ton for rest of the tips and hints 😉

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1-day itinerary, dongmun traditional market.

Yongduam Rock

Jeju Five-Day Folk Market

Halla arboretum, jeolmul natural recreation forest, hamdeok beach, where to eat, black pork street, sun oak's myeongga sashimi restaurant, guksumanchan.

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Explore nearby places

• Gangjin-gun
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• Yeonggwang-gun
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All related maps of Jeju

• Map of Jeju
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Jeju throughout the year

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Looking for other day-by-day itineraries in Jeju?

Check out our other curated itineraries that are also filled with jam-packed days:

Day itineraries for nearby cities

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